Baylor football player Ryan Parker is photographed in the studio for the Best of Preps all-star team Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn.Baylor School linebacker Ryan Parker's trail has taken a turn, twisting from South Bend to West Point.
He is going from a Notre Dame preferred walk-on offer to a U.S. Military Academy appointment.
"I decided to decommit from Notre Dame really because I felt more at home with Army and the coaches," said Parker, who was voted MVP of the Division II-East/Middle Region that included numerous Southeastern Conference commitments.
There were other reasons for the switch, although getting a share of playing time at fullback isn't among them.
"I have a chance to get on the field sooner. I'll be an outside linebacker," said Parker, a three-time Best of Preps football selection. "I enjoy the defensive side. I like to know all the positions, and I like punishing more than getting hit."
There is some family history with the military. Parker said his grandfather was an early member of the OSS (forerunner to the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. Special Operations Command) and operated in Greece during World War II. One of his uncles is a retired major general.
A state Mr. Football Award winner, Parker had 120 tackles in 2015, including 32 for lost yardage, six sacks, a fumble recovery and two blocked kicks.
"He plays with a chip on his shoulder - very aggressively," Baylor coach Phil Massey said. "He plays as though he wants to prove himself on every snap. He has proven to everyone in our league how good he is. He's a complete football player. That's all you can say."
Parker actually is a complete athlete. He played lacrosse for three years, is a state medalist in track and field and next month will go for his fourth straight state wrestling title.
Wrestling also figured into Parker's change of heart. He had numerous collegiate offers in that sport, including from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Virginia, Cornell, North Carolina State, Princeton and Old Dominion - and Army.
"They've told me I will have a chance to wrestle also - probably heavyweight because the football coaches are already talking about a (weight) goal of 230 or 240 pounds," he said.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.