Arkansas DB pledge Parker keeping tradition alive

2021 DB Keuan Parker. Photo courtesy of @JohnnyDashMedia

— Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington’s football program has had some outstanding defensive backs the last few seasons, and a future Razorback is carrying on the tradition this year.

Senior standout and 2021 Arkansas pledge Keuan Parker (5-11, 175) looks forward to playing in a college secondary as a pair of former Hornets are doing now in safety Dax Star (Michigan) and cornerback D.J. Jones (Oklahoma State).

Washington also has Arkansas 2022 cornerback recruiting target Gentry Williams (6-0, 170), a top 50 junior nationally, per 247 Sports, who suffered a torn ACL earlier this season.

“We’ve had some very good defensive backs here and I want to keep it going this year and then once I get to Arkansas,” Parker said. “I want to continue the tradition we have going by coming in ready to play.”

Parker chose Arkansas over Michigan State, Oregon, Nebraska, Baylor, Kansas, SMU and other programs.

“At the end, it wasn’t really that close,” Parker said. “I knew that Arkansas was where I wanted to be. What helped me make the decision was I felt at home when I visited Fayetteville. I feel like I can call that place home for the next four or five years.

“I am ready to get there and grow and learn and get better with the team.”


Another key reason was because of his friend and former Broken Arrow star Myles Slusher, who is a freshman defensive back for the Razorbacks.

“Myles is a pretty competitive player and he pushes me when we are working out together,” Parker said. “He is a competitor. He doesn’t like to lose. He is going to compete. No matter who you are, no matter who lines up in front of him, he is going to compete at his highest ability.

“If he does mess up, he is not going to stop. He is going to keep going and that’s the mentality I also have.”

Parker committed to the Razorbacks in May and is one of six Oklahoma products who are pledges in Arkansas’ 2021 class, which is ranked 22 nationally by Rivals, 23rd by 247 and 26th by ESPN.

Those are Oklahoma City Carl Albert tailback standout Javion Hunt (6-0, 205), Tulsa Union running back AJ Green (5-11, 175), Vian defensive lineman Solomon Wright (6-1, 270), Oklahoma City John Marshall receiver Bryce Stephens (6-1, 175) and Southmoore kicker Cameron Little (6-2, 170).

The Razorbacks have connections to Oklahoma with head coach Sam Pittman and defensive coordinator Barry Odom growing up in the state, and tight ends coach Jon Cooper and offensive line coach Brad Davis playing for Sooners.

“Coach Pittman and Coach Odom are from Oklahoma and a couple of other coaches on the staff are as well,” Parker said. “They want to create a pipleline from Oklahoma to Fayetteville, at least getting it started back again.

“We all want to be a part of it because we think it is a pretty big thing going on right now. We believe they can win, we believe in him and his staff and want to be a part of the turnaround.”

He is working to get better as the season goes along for the Hornets, which are 2-1 after losing 28-17 to Bishop McGuinness last Friday.

“I am pretty physical,” Parker said. “I am fast. I am pretty good at man and right now I am trying to work on my open-field tackling and really just making more plays and being more involved.”

Parker, who had 45 tackles, 14 pass breakups and two interceptions as a junior, is concentrating on one side of the ball right now as his hamstring continues to fully heal.

“I am just primarily playing defense now,” noted Parker, who finished with 29 tackles and three interceptions as a sophomore. “I was lining up on offense, but I had an injury, so now I am just playing defense.”

Washington won its first two games over Southmoore (28-10) and Del City (15-13) before the loss to Bishop McGuinness in a hastily put together game after both teams had their opponents cancel due to covid-19.

The Hornets had a 420-279 yards of total offense advantage, but had five turnovers, including three interceptions on their last three drives.

It was Washington’s first game without Williams, a junior who has offers from Arkansas, LSU, Baylor, Florida, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, USC, Michigan, Missouri, TCU and others.

“We have a new coach and a new quarterback," he said. "We want to just keep improving and win a (state championship) at the end.”