By Mark Maynard / Prokickernews.com
ARLINGTON, Tex. – Ryan Parker’s kick was pure Texas-sized.
Parker, a rising senior from Houston, Tex., bombed a Ray Guy Prokicker.com 82-yard kickoff at a camp at the University of Texas-Arlington last week.
Parker’s blast also had a 3.7 hang time. He had campers and camp staff oohing and aahing after the booming kickoff.
“It’s the longest one I’ve seen and I’ve been working these camps for nine years,” said Dusty Mangum, the former University of Texas kicker and a staff member for Prokicker.com. “Ryan is doing well and continues to get better. He’s still got a few things to work on.”
Mangum worked with Parker earlier in the spring at the Prokicker.com at Woodlands High School, where Parker will be a senior this fall.
“The first time I worked with him in the Woodlands we tweaked one or two things and the next day he already fixed it,” Magnum said. “Then he went out and won the (camp) competitions. This week I see him working on those things and getting better.”
Parker’s 82-yard kickoff set the Prokicker.com national record that was previously held by Nick Pollard four years ago. Pollard, a kicker for University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, is a Prokicker.com staff member and actually charted the record-breaking kicker at UTA.
“What can I say? He got me by a yard,” Pollard said.
Parker was thrilled to have the record. He said that was “my longest by like five yards.”
There was a slight wind but not really enough to make a big impact.
“ I hit it pretty solid,” Parker said. “Dusty is really good. He’s getting my contact better. He gets my plant leg in position to swing through the ball. The drills have really helped me. I’ll take those home and keep working with them.”
Parker said he improves every time he attends a Prokicker.com camp. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of staff members, many who are currently on college rosters and some who enjoyed careers in college.
“Those guys went to (Prokicker.com) camps and now they’re in college,” he said. “My goal is to get a scholarship next year to kick in college.”
If Parker keeps busting 82-yard kickoffs, that shouldn’t be a problem.
