Skip to main content
Advertising

News | Washington Commanders - Commanders.com

Seven Things We've Learned About Donald Parham

donald_parham_seven_things_brush-centerpiece

As players take their final breaks before training camp, we will take a look back at the new faces from this offseason and what we've learned about them, football and otherwise, so far.

Next up is undrafted tight end Donald Parham:

1. Parham is the tallest player on the Redskins roster and one of the tallest in the NFL.

The tight end from Stetson University in Florida is 6-foot-8 -- five inches above the NFL's average height for the position -- and weighs 237 pounds. Parham even lists his height in his Twitter name.

His size and athleticism helped him dominate in his final collegiate season, averaging 146.6 yards on 9.4 receptions per game. These numbers led all FCS schools and powered Stetson to an eight-win season, its highest since 1951.

2. He played one year of high school football.

Before college, Parham focused more on basketball than football. While he lettered in basketball at Lake Gibson High School in Florida, he played just one year on the gridiron, recording 13 receptions for 234 yards.

3. His extended family has a rich football history.

His uncle, Eric Gallon, played at Kansas State and with the New England Patriots, while his father and uncle played college football at Albany State.

In addition, his cousin Lavell Payne played college football at UCF along with several others who played at Livingstone College and N.C. State, respectively.

4. His production increased exponentially during his college career.

In 11 games as a sophomore, Parham grabbed 37 passes for 455 yards. Playing 10 games as a junior he snatched 58 receptions for 815 yards. And in only nine games as a senior, he hauled in 85 catches for 1,319 yards and 13 touchdowns.

5. He gained exposure during Senior Bowl week.

"Stetson tight end Donald Parham is a gazelle," Brad Kelly, a scout for the NFL Draft Network, tweeted during Senior Bowl week in January. However, Parham almost never got the chance to showcase his skills at the event.

Parham had been working out in Miami since Stetson's season ended in November and initially planned to play in the NFLPA Bowl in California. But thanks to support from his coaches, he received a Senior Bowl invite on Jan. 11 and turned heads in Mobile, Alabama before an injury robbed him of the chance to play in the game.

"Donald expressed interest in playing in the NFL early on, and we laid out what he had to do in order for him to get there," Stetson head coach Roger Hughes said. "Nobody knew it would come to fruition like it did this year, though. I saw an elevation in his commitment this summer. He stayed at school, worked out, and made sacrifices to get in physical condition to play at that level."

6. He initially signed with the Detroit Lions.

Some outlets listed Parham as a late seventh-round pick or an ideal undrafted free agent. When he did not hear his name called in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions decided to make a move on the 6-foot-8 tight end but waived him May 12 following their rookie minicamp.

The Redskins were the second team to take a chance on Parham, and he impressed during the team's veteran minicamp June 6. During a red zone drill, he even caught a touchdown pass from first-round quarterback Dwayne Haskins.

7. He joins a versatile tight end group in Washington.

The Redskins have a versatile unit at the tight end position. Leading the group are veterans Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis, while a mix of young players such as Matt Flanagan, Jeremy Sprinkle, J.P. Holtz and now Parham are in the process of establishing roles for themselves.

Related Content

Advertising