THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602140558
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Norfolk State has signed Freddie Parker, a quarterback Spartans head coach Darnell Moore envisions being a focal point when the university jumps from Division II to Division I-AA in 1997.
Parker, a 6-foot-1, 215-pounder from Cummings High in Burlington, N.C., threw 38 career touchdown passes at a school known for producing quality quarterbacks. Among notable Cummings alumni are former North Carolina quarterback Chuckie Burnette, Georgia Tech's Donnie Davis and East Carolina backup quarterback Earnest Tinnen.
``He's got a good arm and can throw the deep square-in, which is what we look for,'' Moore said. ``He ran the run-and-shoot in high school, he's taller than Aaron (Sparrow, two-time CIAA player of the year), and he throws tall.''
Parker, a power-hitting outfielder, also will play baseball for the Spartans, providing he isn't selected in major league baseball's amateur draft in June.
``We're still looking to sign another quarterback,'' Moore said. ``We went after some good quarterbacks and we lost out on some of them. But we're not going to take any rinky-dinks.''
Among those the Spartans were unable to sign were Kansas City's Damian Rolls, who accepted a baseball scholarship with Kansas, and Kinston (N.C.) High's Kevin Ward, who signed with Liberty Bowl champion East Carolina.
Parker highlights a group of 11 players - just over half of what Moore hopes to land during this signing period, which doesn't end for another week. The Spartans hope to sign between 16 and 20 players.
Also in the latest take are a pair of linemen from Baltimore's Dunbar High - Dwayne Green and Deon Johnson - and two linemen from Atlanta's Columbia High - Larodus Stephens and Kevin Letson. Of the group, only Letson has yet to meet NCAA freshman academic eligibility standards.
``We would have been satisfied just getting Stephens,'' Moore said. ``Letson is a bonus.''
The Spartans also have signed linebacker Dante Hardy, a junior transfer from Michigan State who did not play last year and will be immediately eligible.
The signings at a glance:
Mile Clayton, 6-4, 280, OT, Surry (Va.) High; Dwayne Green, 6-4, 260, OL-DL, Dunbar, Baltimore, Md.; Dante Hardy, 6-3, 225, LB, transfer from Michigan State; Jason Howell, 6-3, 305, OL-DL, Surry (Va.) High; Deon Johnson, 6-2, 320, DT, Dunbar, Baltimore, Md.; Kevin Letson, 6-3, 290, Columbia, Atlanta, Ga.; Mike Majette, 6-0, 195, RB, Princess Anne, Virginia Beach; Freddie Parker, 6-1, 215, QB, Cummings, Burlington, N.C.; Larodus Stephens, 6-1, 275, C, Columbia, Atlanta, Ga.; Rodney Vaughn, 6-2, 265, LB, Surry (Va.) High; Joe Verdi, 5-10, 165, PK, Deep Creek, Chesapeake. by CNB