TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Standing 5-foot-10, third-round rookie cornerback Jacob Parrish is undersized for his position. But what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in athleticism, instinct, and confidence.
“My whole life, I have been a smaller guy, but I feel like it is my mindset,” said Parrish. “I feel like I am the best player on the field and that is how I approach each and every day.”
The former Kansas State standout wasted little time in making his presence felt at Bucs rookie minicamp. He posted a pick-six on his first day and then followed that up with another interception on day two.
“He got a good pick, good to see him do some things,” said Bucs head coach Todd Bowles. “Again, it’s t-shirts and shorts but good to see him make a first impression.”
Because of his size, many draft experts pegged Parrish as a nickel cornerback in the NFL. But head coach Todd Bowles believes Parrish has the versatility to play on the outside as well.
“He can’t play outside ‘in a pinch’ – he can play outside,” said Bowles. “He can play outside corner. We’ve got him learning nickel; I’m very comfortable with him outside. He can start at corner in this league probably for anybody and he can play inside, as well. That’s the beauty of him. He’s not just a nickel; I think he’s an outside corner first and then a nickel second. The fact that he plays inside is just a bonus for us when we have a few guys that play inside. It helps us from a matchup standpoint, from a gameplan standpoint, which one could play nickel at which time. It keeps a lot of people guessing.”