Graduate transfer offensive lineman Daijon Parker “so glad” he’s a Hawkeye
Former Division II standout appreciates all the advantages of playing for a Power Five school
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The NCAA transfer portal certainly has its flaws, so much so that Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has described it as being a mess.
But there is also a good side to the portal, a side in which opportunities are provided for those looking for a fresh start, or for a bigger stage and a bigger challenge to help reach their potential.
Take Iowa offensive lineman Daijon Parker for example.
His decision to transfer from Division II Saginaw State in his home state of Michigan to Iowa wasn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, but rather a case in which Parker was looking to play college football at the highest level in hopes of ultimately reaching the highest level.
He had previously been committed to Virginia before a coaching change at his position caused him to reconsider his decision.
Parker then checked out Iowa and liked what he saw and heard.
He signed with Iowa in December as a graduate student, and now after nearly seven months of being a Hawkeye, Parker is thrilled with his decision.
He likes everything about being an Iowa football player, and he considers it a privilege because Parker knows after having played at the Division II level since 2018 just how good the Iowa players have it in so many ways.
From the endless amount of food that is served at training table to the top-notch facilities and support staff to the level of competition, Parker is living a dream that he would never take for granted.
“I would say like every day I remind myself, I’m an Iowa Hawkeye,” Parker said. “I remember there were times when I was at my D-two (school), we didn’t get food after we shared the training room with every sport. Just things like that, a lot of guys here don’t know and appreciate.
“And I just try to tell guys that, you all should appreciate this every day. I enjoy being in the building every day and being around my teammates every day. I’m so glad I made this decision.”
Parker already has benefitted physically from Iowa’s strength and conditioning program.
He said he weighed 297 pounds when he came to Iowa, and by June, he weighed 319 pounds.
He has since dropped his weight to 314 pounds and likes how it feels.
“I would just say all the nutrition and all the resources we have here compared to D-two is not even (comparable),” Parker said. “There is just so much stuff, the resources we have here that I take advantage of, just like we have a re-fuel station every day. I just take stuff home and have all that fuel.
“You can feel the difference. You feel stronger. You feel faster. And I really appreciate it a lot, all the food and stuff like that, the nutrition.”
Parker’s path to Iowa started to be paved when Virginia’s offensive line coach resigned to take a job with North Carolina State.
Parker gave the Cavaliers a chance to convince him to stay committed, but then he started to look elsewhere when Virginia failed to hire an offensive line coach in what Parker thought was a reasonable amount of time.
“It was a month that went by, and they still hadn’t hired an O-line coach,” Parker said. “I’m going into my last year and I didn’t know who my coach would be.”
Parker had been in contact with Iowa in December, so when he decided to move on from his commitment to Virginia, transferring to Iowa became an option.
Former Iowa defensive back Kaevon Merriweather put in a good word for Iowa, and what he said meant a lot to Parker as they are close friends after having grown up together in Michigan.
Parker, who is from Inkster, Michigan, then spoke with Iowa offensive line coach George Barnett and set up a visit to Iowa City.
His visit then sealed the deal.
“That is one of best decisions that I made in my life, and I’m here,” Parker said.
Parker said he knew early in his visit to Iowa that he wanted to be a Hawkeye.
“Just based on how the guys took me in,” Parker said. “You know when you go to a new place some people might feel a type of way, there was nothing like that here. Everybody took me under their wing, older and younger guys.
“I just appreciate them.”
Parker chose Iowa even without knowing that Kirk Ferentz’s area of expertise is the offensive line.
Ferentz coached the Iowa offensive line for nine seasons under Hayden Fry from 1981-89, and for six seasons in the NFL from 1993-98.
“I knew who he was,” Parker said of Kirk Ferentz. “I just didn’t know that he coached the offensive line.”
Parker has met with the media multiple times in his short time as a Hawkeye, and he also has participated in meet-and-greets with fans.
Parker’s career as a Hawkeye on the field got off to a rocky start as he suffered a leg injury that limited his participation during spring practice.
He was on his way to class when he felt his knee lock-up.
“I was really frustrated,” Parker said. “But I was able to learn the play book and other things.
“So, overall, I don’t regret anything that happened because camp is coming up and I’ve still got an opportunity to go out and compete.”
Parker is now part of an Iowa offensive line that struggled for most of last season with both run and pass blocking.
Iowa returns multiple starters on the offensive line, but Kirk Ferentz still felt it was necessary to bring in more talent.
Parker already was listed as the backup right tackle heading into spring practice depite having been on the team for barely three months.
He is now part of an Iowa offense that finished last season ranked 130th out of 131 FBS teams in total offense, and that only had seven touchdown passes.
But there is some hope, thanks largely to the the transfer portal.
Parker is part of an Iowa portal haul that also includes former Michigan starting quarterback Cade McNamara and former Michigan starting tight end Erick All.
Iowa also has added former Miami (Ohio) offensive lineman Rusty Feth from the transfer portal.
Feth, just like Parker, was looking to play on a bigger stage with what little time he still has left in college.
And while the fans at their previous schools probably hated to see them leave, Parker and Feth both had graduated and performed so well on the field at their previous schools that they had a chance to leave, and to help their cause as football players.
It’s hard to find fault with somebody who wants to play on a bigger stage and against better competition because there are times when a student-athlete has to do what it best for them.
Daijon Parker gave everything he had to Saginaw State, where he was redshirted in 2018, injured in 2019 and without football in 2020 due to the global pandemic, and he has since been rewarded for that with his chance to be a Hawkeye.
He appreciates where he came from, and where he is now because he wouldn’t be a Hawkeye without his success at Saginaw State.
Iowa OL Daijon Parker on his journey here and being apart of the Hawkeye football program: pic.twitter.com/BFumgrxNqg
— Dallas Jones (@DallasJonesy) July 18, 2023