A product of Hargrave Military Academy and converted cornerback, D.J. Parker started his final 27 games as a free safety at Virginia Tech.

Under his leadership, a young defensive backfield led the nation in pass defense in 2006 (128.23 yards per game) and helped the Hokies rank fourth nationally in total defense in 2007 (296.93 ypg). With the secondary's conservative approach, keeping the opposition from scoring was what Parker did best, as Tech led the country in scoring defense (11.0 points per game) during his junior year and ranked third in the nation (16.07 ppg) in 2007.

At Phoebus High School, Parker lettered as a quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback, helping his team to back-to-back state Group AAA championships (2001-02). He threw for 707 yards on 45 of 94 passes with 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions, adding 400 yards and nine scores rushing while contributing five interceptions on defense as a senior.

Parker's game-saving interception vs. Kecoughtan High helped preserve the team's undefeated season in 2002. He earned first-team Class All-State honors from the Virginia High School Coaches Association and was a first-team Newport News Daily Press All-Star Team choice as a defensive back that campaign.

In 2003, Parker competed as a cornerback at Hargrave Military Academy before enrolling at Virginia Tech the following season. He appeared in 12 games as a reserve free safety in 2004, ending up with 10 tackles (seven solos) and a forced fumble. He started six of thirteen games as a sophomore, delivering 34 tackles (11 solos) with two pass breakups, also recovering a fumble that he returned five yards for a touchdown.

Parker became the full-time starter at free safety in 2006. The defense allowed a nation-low 219.46 yards per game, as the secondary captain posted 41 tackles (13 solo) and caused two fumbles. He also picked off a pair of passes and deflected seven others.

As a senior, Parker earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention. The secondary struggled a bit, finishing 31st in the nation, by allowing 210.29 yards per game. The free safety ranked sixth on the team with a career-high 59 tackles (31 solo) and 1 ½ stops for losses, but had a mediocre second half, as he totaled just 16 tackles in his final six games. He also intercepted three passes, returning one for a touchdown and was credited with seven pass deflections.

Positives: Angular frame would be acceptable at cornerback, as he has linear upper-body muscle tone (but it is not the frame you look for in a safety) … Shows good quickness in his running stride and keeps his pad level proper to squat and make plays in front of him … Has good lateral range and change-of-direction skills to cover short-area receivers one-on-one … Alert to blocking schemes and is good at avoiding bigger opponents on the move … Has a team-first work ethic and takes well to hard coaching … Shows good body control and balance competing for the ball in a crowd … Is generally in position to make the play (lacks pop behind his hits to impact the opponent) … Is just an adequate student, but does make quick reads and reacts with good urgency when he locates the ball … Has a good feel for the receivers coming out of their breaks and plays with good conservatism (not the type that will gamble) … Has that natural feel for knowing when the play is developing … Has adequate flexibility in transition (needs to improve his plant-and-drive, as he is not the guy you want on the opponent's best receiver, but he has a chance in the nickel) … Low and controlled in his backpedal (just looks tight in his turns), showing decent lateral movement … Moves athletically to close on plays in front of him and has the straight-line speed to come up from the deep secondary to the fringes of the box … Best making plays vs. action in front of him … Has enough foot speed to run with receivers on deep routes, making him a possible fit at cornerback … Does not have the ideal hands to reach and pluck the ball at its high point, but his leaping ability and timing get him over and around the receiver to break up the pass … Decent downhill tackler who knows how to slip under blocks and make plays in pursuit (just won't punish anyone with his hits) … Takes good angles in attempts to run the alley … Will flash to strike and has good wrap-up technique as a tackler.

Negatives: Has an underdeveloped frame with very skinny legs and arms and doesn't have room for future growth potential … Has good weight-room strength, but it does not translate to the field, as he does not generate much force or explosion behind his tackles … Needs to work on his closing burst, as he has good timed speed, but does not show suddenness closing on the ball … Built more like a linear cornerback a safety … His obvious lack of force behind his tackles leaves him relying on perfect technique … Will struggle in run support vs. the more physical ballcarriers at the next level due to marginal pop on contact … Must do a better job of planting and driving out of his breaks and can be fooled by double moves (mostly due to a lack of burst to recover) … Smooth in his backpedal, but lacks explosion coming out of his breaks … Better playing vs. action in front of him, as he seems to lack consistent hand-eye coordination in tracking the ball on long routes (will get taken out of position trying to get under deep throws) … Lacks natural hands for the interception and his timing seems to be off going up to try and high point the ball … Struggles with hand placement when trying to reroute or mirror the receivers (no power behind his hands when trying to press) … Needs to loosen his hips, as he looks awkward trying to adjust and get under the ball to make the interception.

Compares To: DOMONIQUE FOXWORTH-Denver … Liker Foxworth, Parker has good coverage skills in the short-to-intermediate area, but with his slight frame and lack of big-play ability, he looks like a reluctant cornerback playing safety. To play his position at the next level, he has to be much more explosive tackling. He has good foot speed to close on the ball, but his plant-and-drive issues prevent him from coming out of his breaks cleanly and he doesn't have a second gear to compensate.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 4.42 in the 40-yard dash … 340-pound bench press … 420-pound squat … 304-pound power clean … 31-inch vertical jump … 31 ½-inch arm length … 8 ½-inch hands … Right-handed … 13/28 Wonderlic score.

Combine: 4.53 in the 40-yard dash … Bench pressed 225 pounds 19 times.

Attended Phoebus (Hampton, Va.) High School, playing football for head coach Bill Dee … Lettered as a quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback, helping his team to back-to-back state Group AAA championships (2001-02) … Threw for 707 yards on 45 of 94 passes with 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions, adding 400 yards and nine scores rushing while contributing five interceptions on defense as a senior … His game-saving interception vs. Kecoughtan High helped preserve the team's undefeated season in 2002 … Earned first-team Class All-State honors from the Virginia High School Coaches Association and was a first-team Newport News Daily Press All-Star Team choice as a defensive back that year.

Apparel, Housing and Resource Management major … Son of Angela Parker … Born Dorian James Parker on 4/18/85 … Resides in Hampton, Virginia.