Parker signs with SNU football team

ELGIN — Elgin’s Toby Parker signed a letter of intent Monday to play collegiate football at Southern Nazarene University next season.

Parker, who was named to the Oklahoma Coaches All-State team this year, decided in early February that he wanted to see if any college teams would be interested in signing him, Elgin head coach Chalmer Wyatt said.

“He came in on Feb. 2 and decided he wanted to pursue football, so we put together some film and SNU was one of the first to respond,” the coach said. “Within a week, Toby was in contact with them. They loved his film. He’s a heck of a player.”

Wyatt believes Parker can have a solid collegiate career and “fit into any system.”

“He can come down from the corner spot and make tackles or he can defend in coverage,” Wyatt said. “I think he’s a good fit for them (SNU). Plus, he’ll fit into their program with four other Owls already there.”

Already on the Crimson Storm roster are brothers Cole and Zach Cizek, C.J. Underwood and Ricardo Smith.

Last season, Parker recorded 71 tackles as a senior cornerback in the Elgin secondary with 52 solo tackles, three tackles for loss, 14 pass breakups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Ricardo Smith was a freshman quarterback last season while Zach Cizek was a sophomore offensive lineman. Cole Cizek and Underwood were part of the linebacking corps.