Byron Parker

Byron Wesley Parker (born March 3, 1981 in Madisonville, Kentucky) is a cornerback for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. On April 26, 2004, Parker was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars after playing one season of college football as a walk-on with the Tulane Green Wave. After being cut by the Jaguars during training camp, Parker signed with the Argonauts on January 24, 2005 but played in only 6 games. In 2006, Parker tried out for the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. After being cut by the Cowboys on July 31, 2006, Parker re-joined the Argonauts a week later, roughly halfway into the 2006 CFL season. Upon his return, he became their starting cornerback. On October 14, 2006, Parker broke a CFL record for most interception return yardage in a single season with a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown in Edmonton. Parker ended the season with 348 interception return yards, surpassing Eric Carter's 2003 record of 300 yards.

Parker initially enrolled into Tulane on a college basketball scholarship and played on their team from 2001 to 2003. It was also in 2003 that Parker won the NCAA slam dunk competition. His slam dunking abilities were showcased in a 2005 CFL game at Molson Stadium against the Montreal Alouettes. Lined up as a wide receiver, Parker caught a 42-yard touchdown reception and celebrated by dunking the ball over the cross bar uprights.

Though born in Kentucky, Parker lives in Atlanta, Georgia during the off season.

He also has a 43" vertical leap.

External links

* [http://www.cfl.ca/index.php?module=roster&func=display&ros_id=400 CFL.ca page]
* [http://www.argonauts.ca/index.php/roster/show/id/400 Argonauts.ca page]
* [http://tulanegreenwave.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/parker_byron00.html Tulane basketball page]
* [http://tulanegreenwave.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/parker_byron00.html Tulane football page]
*youtube|j4ivPuRT5xU|Video clip of 2003 NCAA slam dunk contest won by Byron Parker
* [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1161208213447&call_pageid=972053291757 Parker pickoffs garner award] - Toronto Star article
* [http://www.globeauto.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070621.wh-byronparker-0621/GAStory/specialGlobeAuto/ BYRON PARKER: Speed and muscle (feature on Byron Parker's custom car)]