Mark Parson couldn't have asked for a better trainer than his all-time favorite player - the always flashy, always intriguing and always unique - Deion Primetime Sanders.
Parson, a three-year starter at cornerback for Ohio, was invited to train under the former star at Prime U in Dallas, Texas, in January. He prepared for three months for the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game, Ohio's Pro Day and private NFL workouts.
Prime U is a training program run by Sanders. It is designed to prepare prospective NFL players physically and mentally for the NFL. It doesn't just focus on the traditional drills ran at the NFL Combine, but on everything to be a successful pro and person.
Parson trained with Sanders and his staff, which also included former NFL players Kevin Mathis, who had a 10-year NFL career as a cornerback, and Omar Stoutmire, who had an 11-year career as a defensive back.
Anyone who has ever seen Sanders in a game, a commercial or even his reality TV Show, Prime Time Love, knows how flamboyant and braggadocious Sanders is on camera. Parson said that isn't all Sanders is, though.
He's really down to earth
Parson said. Anybody that knows him will tell you that for someone with that much money and that much fame he's really down to earth and really cool. But in the camera you don't see that.
Parson said when the camera was off and it was time to work, Sanders was all business.
I didn't realize how much work and effort he actually put into being the greatest
Parson said. I mean he worked his tail off
man. Seeing that pushed me even more to do what I can to be the best.
Parson said aside from the physical work he did, running 40-yard dashes, repping 225- pound weights and improving his vertical, Sanders took his football IQ to a new level. The former Bobcat cornerback said he took the techniques he learned at Prime U and used them in the all-star game, in which he said he played very well.
Parson, listed at 5-foot-9 and 186 pounds, said he ran a 4.53 40-yard dash, had a 38-inch vertical, a 9-foot-11-inch broad jump, and bench pressed 225 pounds 12 times at Ohio's Pro Day March 12.
He's been in contact with 13 NFL teams. He's visited with three: the Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans.
He said all three interviews had the same structure. He was given a physical examination, met with the coaches and watched the team practice.
In Detroit, he went out to eat with his friend and former Bobcat Landon Cohen, who is now a defensive tackle with the Lions.
Cohen told Parson that being in the NFL is all about a mindset, having confidence and knowing you're good.
But it was back in Texas where Parson got the best vibe.
I really liked the Texans' organization
Parson said. And it seemed like they really liked me.
While Parson wants to get drafted as early as he can, he said he isn't worried.
I'm cool
Parson said. Because my whole mindset is whatever happens
I'm going hard at camp regardless.
Parson said David Gibbs, secondary coach with the Texans, told him that after the first 10 picks, the NFL Draft is a free for all. But Gibbs told Parson that he has a 99 percent chance of getting drafted - it's just a matter of when.
Another Bobcat who starred in the defensive backfield for Ohio is shooting up people's draft boards. Michael Mitchell, a 6-foot-1, 216-pound safety, is catching scouts' eyes with his 4.43 speed in the 40-yard dash and the ability to make plays around
the line of scrimmage.
Parson and Mitchell are good friends, and talk almost every day. They don't hesitate to taunt each other about the draft.
We'll text each other
'hey man I hope you get drafted in the third round
but I'm going first round
' Parson said laughing. We kid around with each other but we definitely want each other to succeed in this whole process.
Where he is on teams' draft boards is a mystery to Parson, but how he got there is not.
Parson couldn't give enough credit to Ohio, specifically defensive coordinator Jimmy Burrow and cornerbacks coach David Brown.
He said because those coaches implemented a primarily man-coverage scheme, he has the tools to play in the NFL. He said it's a blessing he ended up at Ohio.
When coach David Brown came in
