CARDINALS

FSU DBs excited to face DeVante Parker

Corey Clark
Tallahassee Democrat

Ronald Darby appeared shocked at the question.

Last week the Florida State junior cornerback was asked if he looked forward to testing himself against an elite receiver like the University of Louisville's DeVante Parker.

"Of course," he answered with a laugh.

There was no hesitation. No moment of reflection. Darby seemed amused the question was even asked. He's a starting cornerback at Florida State after all. Of course, he looks forward to facing big-time receivers. After all, he said, he does it every day in practice against Rashad Greene and the rest of the FSU wideouts.

"It helps a lot, to be honest," Darby said. "It helps you during the game. It helps you prepare. It helps you work on your technique."

Parker is listed at 6-foot-3, 208 pounds and has reportedly been timed at under 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash. In 2013, as a junior, he caught 55 passes for 885 yards and 12 touchdowns for a Louisville team that finished 12-1.

He missed the first seven games of this season with a foot injury but returned last week against N.C. State and caught nine passes for 132 yards.

"He had a big impact, probably more than I imagined he could," U of L head coach Bobby Petrino said. "He did a great job running after the catch and getting open, catching the ball in his hands.

"He was sore after the game, obviously. He hadn't been hit for a long time and been through the things he did in that game. But we're real encouraged that the next day he felt better than he ever thought he would."

The Louisville native and Ballard High School graduate is considered a potential NFL first-round draft pick. He might be very well be the most talented receiver the Florida State defensive backs have faced since Clemson's Sammy Watkins.

Well, unless of course you count what they face every day in practice. Not only has the FSU secondary gone up against Greene all year but were also forced to deal with Kelvin Benjamin last season as well.

And as good as Parker is he's not Benjamin, said sophomore Jalen Ramsey.

"There's no one who compares to KB honestly," Ramsey said of Benjamin, who has 38 catches for 571 yards and five TDs this season for the Carolina Panthers. "I don't feel like there's anyone who compares to Rashad. But they give us such great practice that when it comes to game time, I feel like I'm so prepared, ready to just go out there and play.

"I'm not worried about anything."

That doesn't mean Ramsey doesn't respect Parker. He most certainly does. And he understands Thursday night will be a big challenge for the Florida State secondary.

"Very, very good receiver," Ramsey said. "Very dynamic. His last game, he dominated."

Said FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher: "He's the real deal. He's a heck of a player."