Camden Catholic’s Jamal Parker is a football jack of all skill trades. Photo by Al Thompson

Camden Catholic finished the regular season unbeaten, 8-0, the West Jersey – Royal Champs and the No. 2 seed in the highly competitive Group 3 Non-Public Division of the NJSIAA tournament.

The Fighting Irish, despite their record and seed were matched up in the first round against No. 7 seed DePaul Catholic. The Spartans (3-6 regular season), playing a national-level schedule were ranked No. 4 in New Jersey by MaxPreps.com, about 35 spots ahead of Camden Catholic.

The result was a 40-13 loss.

But the game served as a showcase for talented players like Camden Catholic senior athlete Jamal Parker, regarded as one of the best skill players in the state.

“It’s tough losing in the first round, but overall we did what we were supposed to do this year,” Parker told the Wire recently. “We had a couple of things not go our way in the playoff game. We had a couple of chances to get off the field on third down and didn’t…that led to touchdowns (for DePaul Catholic), if we had, the score wouldn’t have been 40-13, it would have been closer.”

What’s left for Parker and his teammates is their Thanksgiving game against neighborhood rival Paul VI, who lost to powerhouse Don Bosco Prep (No. 29 Nationally) in the even more competitive Group 4 playoffs.

Parker is the definition of diversity and production on the football field.

He has 32 catches for 519 yards and 6 touchdowns as a receiver, 22 rushes for 171 yards and two touchdowns as a running back. As a safety, Parker has 57 total tackles. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound speedster is also an excellent kick/punt returner with two touchdowns this season on special teams.
Parker says his goals for his final high school game are simple.

“I want to win the game first,” Parker said. “I’d like to win MVP (of the game). I won it my sophomore year. I want to finish strong my senior year and show the impact I can have on special teams, offense and defense where they (the coaches) use me and utilize me in all different positions…as a free safety…I’ll come down into the box at times, or as a running back, receiver or on punt return or kick return.”

After the game and his high school career are done, he is going focus on the next chapter of his football career. Parker is being recruited by a number of programs, mostly from the East, and he reports the process is, at least, interesting.

“It’s unique, very unique,” said Parker, who is another in a long line of top high school athletes who are trained by Chad Hallet of Adrenaline Sports performance of Cherry Hill. “There’s a whole bunch of schools coming to see you. You talk to one coach one day, another coach the next day…it’s like a roller coaster ride.”
Parker says Temple, Syracuse, Towson, Kent State and Michigan have shown interest. Syracuse and Michigan have extended an invitation to visit and see a game.

Parker said Kent State and Towson have made formal offers. He says he has attended a Temple game and was impressed with the success of the Owls.

“I went to the Penn State game,” Parker said. “I like Temple a lot. They’re close. They’re good. I like the coaches and I have a lot of friends who go there now.”

Parker said his Temple buddies include junior linebacker Jarred Alwan from Camden Catholic, sophomore defensive back Sean Chandler from Camden (and wearer of the coveted No. 3) and freshman defensive back Kareem Ali from Timber Creek.

Sounds like Temple is high on Parker’s radar, but either way, he not going to make any commitments until he is sure he has been contacted by all interested parties.

“I’m going to wait until after this last game and sit down with my parents,” Parker said. “I’m make a couple of official visits and make my decision.”

Parker is a student of the game. He names two NFL players as his favorites, both are defensive backs tipping his hand on which side of the line he will play college ball.

Arizona safety Tyrann Mathieu “He’s that in-between-er corner/safety,” Parker said. “He’s about my height.”
Jets perennial pro bowl corner Darrelle Revis “I love his technique,” Parker said. “He recognizes plays before they happen or what the receiver is going to do ahead of time.”

Parker says he knows he will have to play corner, not safety at the next level. If defense is where he wants to develop as a college player.

His comments though beg the question about what position he wants to enter his college career as. What position will he have the most fun playing? Offense or defense?

Parker gave the answer every coach wants to hear when they are recruiting a player.

“The most fun?” Parker said. “It doesn’t matter. Whatever gets me on the field.”
Most stats from Maxpreps.com.

TURKEY BOWL STUFF
Lenape has a game left on Thanksgiving against surging Shawnee.

Haddonfield squares off on Thanksgiving against its natural rival Haddon Heights.

Cinnaminson lost to Buena in the Group 2 playoffs but can end the season on positive note, winning its Thanksgiving game against Delran.

Paulsboro has a lot on the line at the end of its season advancing in the Group 1 playoffs plus a November 28 date against undefeated West Deptford.

Another traditional Thanksgiving Day game features Timber Creek, who is on to the second round of the Group 4 playoffs, against neighborhood rival Triton who will be looking for just its second win.

Group 1 top seeded Salem dropped its season finale then was upset by No.8 seed in the first round of the playoffs.
The Rams can end the season with a smile if it knocks off Thanksgiving Day rival Woodstown, who lost to Haddonfield in the first round of the Group 2 playoffs.

Woodrow Wilson lost to Camden in the first round of the Group 3 playoffs, but is still scheduled to play Camden again on Thanksgiving Day.

Palmyra won its Central Group 1 first round playoff game but still has its Thanksgiving Day matchup with Burlington City.