DeVante Parker

Early years

Parker is the son of Raneca Parker and former Louisville running back Anthony Shelman. He attended Ballard High School in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was a three-sport star in football, track and basketball. He was a two-time All-State performer. He totaled 73 catches for 1,438 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. He was named first team All-State by The Courier-Journal. He recorded 209 yards and one touchdown against 6-A state champion Trinity, 137 and two TDs and 184 and two TDs in two games against No. 2 St. Xavier, 211 yards and two TDs against 6-A finalist Male and 227 yards and three TDs in just three quarters against 3-A state champion Central. He was named co-Paul Hornung Award winner as the state's top player with Boyle County's Lamar Dawson. He hauled in 68 passes for 1,793 yards (26.4 yards a catch) and 19 touchdowns as a senior, that ranks fourth all-time in state history. He finished his career as one of the state's all-time leading wide receivers with 3,274 yards, which ranks fifth only behind Somerset's John Cole (4,981), Lawrence County's Gerad Parker (4,736), Male's Montrell Jones (4,345) and Mason County's Chris Lofton (3,511).

In track & field, Parker lettered all four years for the Bruins competing as a sprinter. He earned a third-place finish in the 100-meter dash at the 2011 Male All Comers Meet, recording a personal-best time of 11.18 seconds. At the 2011 Class 3A Region 4 Championship, he posted a career-best time of 22.57 seconds in the 200-meter dash, placing 3rd, while also helping his 4x100 relay rank top in the state until defeated by rival Louisville Eastern High School at regionals and 4x200 relay squad placed first.

Recruiting

Parker was rated as the 26th-best wide receiver in the nation by Scout.com. He was ranked as the 77th-best wide receiver nationally by Rivals.com and the fifth-best player in the Rivals.com Kentucky postseason top 10. Parker chose Louisville over scholarship offers from Kentucky, Indiana and UCF.

Freshman season

As a true freshman in 2011, Parker appeared in 11 games. He finished sixth on the team with 18 receptions for 291 yards and led the team in touchdowns with six. He had two receiving touchdowns at USF. He also made a highlight-reel 39-yard touchdown reception in the season-opening win versus Murray State.

Sophomore season

As a sophomore in 2012, Parker played in all 13 games and led the team with 744 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 40 receptions. His 10 touchdown receptions were the most by a player in a season since 1998. He had a touchdown in six straight games to end the season. He had two games with two receiving touchdowns. He finished the season with two 100 yard receiving games. He hauled in a 75-yard touchdown reception to start second half of Pittsburgh game.

Junior season

As a junior in 2013, Parker played in 12 of 13 games and had 55 receptions for 885 yards and a school record–tying 12 touchdowns. His 12 touchdowns were tied for 10th nationally and led the AAC. He recorded three 100-yard receiving games. He tied a career-high with nine receptions for 142 yards and one touchdown in the Russell Bowl win over Miami. He had a career-best nine catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns in a road win over No. 23 Cincinnati. He finished with five catches for 71 yards and a score at UConn. He had two scoring catches and six catches overall for 74 yards against FIU. He had a season-high 134 yards receiving on five receptions and a pair of touchdowns against EKU.

Senior season

Parker missed the first seven games of his senior season in 2014 with an injury. He played in six games, recording 43 receptions for 855 yards and five touchdowns.

Professional career

Parker was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 14th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.