Kyle Parker goes in-depth on 'homecoming' with LSU commitment

2023 Lucas (Tex.) Lovejoy wide receiver Kyle Parker committed to LSU on Thursday and the decision was one that came about after a run of visits this month. It’s been a steady to rise to committing to one of the top programs in the nation.

“I had a great recruiting process and got my first offer a little bit into my junior season. I had a lot of good options on the table,” Parker told The Bengal Tiger. “LSU came by and were one of my last offers. Coach Hankton offered me and LSU has always been a dream school of mine, it’s the school I watched as I’ve grown up. Me getting that offer, it put some spark into my recruitment.

“I just felt LSU felt like the most home for me. It was definitely a tough decision. I went to Oklahoma State and Louisville, I like those schools too. Texas offered me earlier. It’s definitely not easy. You have to make the right decision, even though it’s hard to make the right decision. Me making this decision felt like the best decision for me. LSU fits me best.”

Kyle Parker’s family has deep ties to LSU, Louisiana

Family ties played a big role for Kyle Parker, who has family in Louisiana while his father attended LSU as a student. His whole family was excited for his decision to come down to Louisiana to play college football.

“My family was very excited knowing that they’re all from down there. When I told them, they kind of knew I liked LSU a lot,” he said. “Me finally telling them this is home, this is where I want to be, they were very excited for me. They know I’ve always wanted to go to LSU. It’s always been a dream school of mine. So they were super excited and very pumped. It’s definitely a homecoming.”

Parker was impressed from the start with wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton, who broke down how he’d be developed in a big way.

“Coach Hankton is definitely a great receivers coach. He came off a National Championship at Georgia and came to LSU,” Parker said. “He showed us all the drills he does and how they apply to the real game and in practice. Overall, he impressed me. He’s a genuine person, too. He’s not just a coach. He’ll definitely help you in life in general. He played a lot for me in my decision to come to LSU. He definitely develops receivers, too.”

When meeting with offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, Kyle Parker saw how he’d be used, which is similar to his Lovejoy offense.

 “His offensive is a little pro-style offense, it fits exactly what I do right now in high school,” Parker said. “He was showing me my film and putting it up with his film like how he runs his offense. It looked like a spitting image of my skillset and what I’ve been doing, moving me around in the slot, finding different ways to get me the ball, 1-on-1 matchups and all that. It was great seeing that.” 

Parker aiming to help LSU to a National Championship

Head coach Brian Kelly’s winning ways stand out to him with how he’s won throughout his career.

“Coach Kelly played a big role in this. It was my first time meeting him when I took the official visit up there. Coach Kelly is a very genuine coach. He’s definitely been winning and coming to the SEC, adding better talent, we definitely have a chance to win a National Championship with how he’s coached. He’s definitely a great coach.”

LSU as a school overall also caught Parker’s eyes. He’s keen on the environment in Baton Rouge with coach Kelly at the helm.

“The school in general, it’s a great campus,” he said. “Everybody up there is cool. The whole coaching staff, they’re a bunch genuine people. They keep it real with you. They showed me around and I fell in love with the campus, I fell in love with everything up there. It was kind of hard to make the decision to not go there. LSU, even academic wise, coach Kelly is changing the academics up there since he’s been there.

“We’re definitely going to try and win a National Championship while I’m up there for my time at LSU.”

According to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies, Kyle Parker is the No. 95 overall wideout in the nation and No. 123 overall prospect in Texas. On3 is even higher on him, ranking him as the No. 43 wideout nationally and No. 55 prospect in Texas.