Parker might have more pro potential as a QB

CLEMSON - A hurricane of speculation has spun around Kyle Parker's baseball future and its ramifications on the Clemson football team, but what of his pro potential as a quarterback?

Parker is playing in his third college baseball season but has played only 14 games as a Division I quarterback.

As a baseball prospect, scouts project him as a corner outfielder with 20-25 home run power. As a pro quarterback, one could argue his ceiling might be higher.

Statistical analysis indicates Parker might be on a career arc similar to those of former Texas star Colt McCoy and ex-Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

Of the top 100-rated FBS quarterbacks last season, 21 were veteran passers who threw at least 165 passes as freshmen.

If Parker builds upon his freshman All-American campaign by improving at the same rate as those quarterbacks did as sophomores, Parker's 2010 stats project to 267-of-461 passing for 3,333 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Of 2009's top-rated quarterbacks who started earlier in their careers as freshmen, only Clausen, McCoy, N.C. State's Russell Wilson and Miami's Jacory Harris threw for more than 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in their sophomore seasons against power-conference competition.

Statistically, Parker had a better freshman season than those of Clausen and Harris and was similar to that of McCoy, who like Parker, is undersized.

Tools-wise, Parker is pro caliber.

Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach Carl Smith worked with Parker in high school. Smith said Parker has arm strength equal to many of the quarterbacks at the recent NFL Combine.

"Parker fits in with that group," Smith said. "Kyle Parker has plenty of arm. Drew Brees kind of gave new life to all the 6-foot quarterbacks, at least in the NFL. ... Parker has enough (strength) to withstand tackling.

"One of the things Kyle's got, I don't know if you could teach it, Kyle has spatial instincts. He knows when he can get it there ... He can turn it loose in a heartbeat."

Does he see a scenario in which Parker gives up football in 2010?

"I know it would be hard for Kyle," Smith said. "He loves it, he's good at it."

Whether Parker attempts 461 passes in the fall as projected is dependent upon a number of variables, but on average, the comparable quarterbacks threw 25 percent more passes as sophomores. They earned more playing time, more trust from their coaches and enjoyed a better command of their offenses.

Collectively in their sophomore seasons, they cut their interception rate from 3.2 percent to 2.9 percent, while increasing their touchdown rate from 4.8 percent to 5.7 percent and yards per pass attempt from 6.93 to 7.23.

Applying those trends to Parker's 2009 performance of 205-of-369 passing for 2,526 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions results in nearly 30 touchdowns and more than 3,000 yards passing.

Whether he can produce such a season, or if Parker even remains on campus, is to be determined, but Clemson offensive coordinator Billy Napier said players often make significant improvement between their freshman and sophomore seasons.

"I really believe the kid has untapped potential in terms of the way he played down the stretch," Napier said. "Now that he has played 14 games and been through a season, I think his best football is ahead of him. He knows how to prepare. He'll be a little less stressed and a little more focused on what's relevant to him playing well on Saturday."

Parker's football future is so promising, Baseball America analyst Aaron Fitt questions whether a major league team would be willing to buy Parker out of football. Several weeks ago, Fitt said Parker was receiving first-round consideration.

"It sure seems like he's going to come back and play football next year," Fitt said. "At this point, it would take a lot of money to buy him out. I think the prevailing sentiment out there is that he is going to come back and play."

Still, there are no guarantees.

Parker's father, Carl, a former NFL player, said there are so many scenarios in play that the picture won't become clearer until after the baseball draft.

While it would be difficult for Parker to pass on playing quarterback, it also could be difficult to pass on first-round money for baseball.

"If there's a life-changing opportunity right now, why wait on another one?" Carl Parker said. "A lot of (baseball) teams are probably scared away (by football). But look at Tim Tebow ... it doesn't take a lot of teams, it only takes one."

NFLdraftscout.com projects Parker as the No. 6 quarterback in the 2013 class.

If Parker progresses, he could develop into the next Clausen or McCoy and become the third or fourth quarterback selected.

Clausen was taken 38th last week as the third quarterback selected; McCoy was selected 85th as the fourth quarterback.

The 38th pick, Rey Maualuga, received $2.9 million guaranteed. The 85th pick, Ramses Barden, received a $731,156 bonus.

The signing bonus for the 38th pick in the NFL draft - possibly the best-case scenario for Parker as a quarterback - is similar to an early first-round bonus in baseball.

For Clemson, the future of the quarterback position remains a promising, wait-and-see proposition.