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Parker Adapts To Emergency Role

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By MICHAEL McGUFFEE, Tribune correspondent

Published: November 18, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - With the team's top three running backs dressed in street clothes on the sideline, sophomore Preston Parker took a Drew Weatherford toss out of the backfield and turned up field for a 20-yard gain on FSU's first play from scrimmage.

And with that, the Seminoles' all-purpose yardage leader may have just found another way to get his hands on the ball.

Parker moved from wide receiver to get the start at tailback for the first time Saturday. A proven playmaker, Parker practiced in the backfield all week as part of offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher's backup plan - prepare Parker should the Seminoles run out of running backs.

"Really, this week all I did was halfback," Parker said. "It's crazy this week, I had to learn everything.

"I told them at the beginning of the year, 'I'll get back there coach. I'll run the ball.' I guess they had enough confidence in me to let me get back there."

Each of the team's top three options went down in an injury-plagued loss to Virginia Tech last week, but the Seminoles went into Saturday's game expecting to have both Antone Smith and Jamaal Edwards - both out with shoulder injuries - back.

They ended up with neither.

Enter Parker, who played tailback sparingly in high school, and whose first carry put the Seminoles in scoring position at the Maryland 6-yard line.

"It came back as soon as I got the ball, first snap," Parker said. "I got the ball and I just ran hard."

But it was during FSU's second possession that Parker emerged as a legitimate weapon at tailback. On the fourth play of the drive, Parker fielded a pass out of the backfield and turned it into a 21-yard gain. On the next play, Parker rushed off-tackle for a gain of 14. On the next, he rumbled up the middle for 18 more yards to find the end zone and give FSU a 14-3 lead.

"I knew he was an amazing playmaker, and he makes plays, so it didn't really surprise me," senior defensive tackle Andre Fluellen said. "But at the same time, I didn't know he could take over a game like he did. That was impressive."

The sophomore finished his first game in the backfield with 20 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown.

"To line up at running back and do what you're going to have to do for a full game, there's a toughness that comes with that," Fisher said. "The biggest thing with him - we all know he's special with the ball - but his competitiveness and his toughness. He's a football player. There's an instinct there that you can't teach and you can't coach."

Parker's biggest flaw at tailback was ball security. The 6-foot, 190-pound wideout was stripped twice and fumbled a third time as part of a bad exchange with Weatherford. Fortunately, he recovered the bad exchange himself and the other two were recovered by teammates.

As for the tailback situation, Fisher said he will evaluate who the team gets back this week before making a decision.

"Wide-back, that's all I can call it," Parker said on where he'll play next week. "As long as we get that W I'll do anything."

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