11 Days Until National Signing Day / Feb. 3, 2010
Lineman commits
FAU's third major recruiting weekend yields first commit from an offensive lineman.
Originally published on
1/24/2010
by
Chuck King
> The List: The latest FAU commitments and offers
For this high school senior, saying yes to Howard Schnellenberger when the FAU coach offered him a scholarship was the culmination of a three year journey that began in North Carolina.
That’s where he played his freshman year of high school football, before the family decided to move to Florida to increase his chances of earning a scholarship.
He attended two Florida high schools in next three years and looked like he might have little to show for it. Still, on Friday’s trip down to Boca Raton, he wasn’t sure he’d commit.
“At first I was going to keep my options open,” Bartram Trail offensive lineman Blake Parrish said. “Then I started thinking about the differences between the other school that was recruiting me and FAU, and FAU just took my heart.”
That other school was Valdosta State – the only other school to offer Parrish. The college search had been slow for the 6-foot-4, 280-pound Parrish up until a couple weeks ago. He blames the lack of consistent interest from colleges on his decision to transfer from Ponte Vedra-Nease High School to Bartram Trail midway through his junior year.
Parrish says the timing of the move kept him from getting the highlight tape of his junior year in the hands of college scouts.
“I actually kind of screwed myself over a little bit,” Parrish said. “I didn’t have any film I could send people.”
Parrish made a quick tape midway through his senior season, which garnered interest from schools like Maine and Massachusetts. Larger schools like Texas and Virginia said they would evaluate it, but only FAU called back.
FAU coaches said prior to the start of the recruiting season that finding offensive and defensive linemen was a top priority. Though several linemen visited FAU during the first two recruiting weekends, most said they wanted to continue to explore their options. This weekend, Parrish became the first lineman to commit.
Florida Atlantic coaches told Parrish they were impressed with his speed off the ball and ability to play multiple positions.
“They like the way I can move real quick,” Parrish said. “I have quick feet. I can move and get downfield to the next level.”
Parrish is an all-conference selection in north Florida and earned first-team All St. John’s County honors.
He was also selected to play in December’s FACA North-South All-Star Game in Sebring. After playing multiple offensive line positions, including long snapper, during his high school career, Parrish played center in that game.
Parrish said FAU coaches didn’t discuss which position on the line they wanted him to play.
“If I had a choice, it would probably be pulling guard,” Parrish said.