Chicago Bears must sign XFL standout TE Donald Parham
By Ryan Heckman
Parham’s Background
The Lakeland, Florida native graduated from Lake Gibson high school and went on to play his college football at Stetson University, located in DeLand, FL. To give you an idea of the kind of chances Parham had of going pro, Stetson has appeared in one single bowl game since its first season in 1901.
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The 6-foot-8 giant of a receiver started out slow at Stetson, appearing in just four games as a freshman in 2015. By his sophomore year, he became more integrated into the offense and caught 37 passes for 455 yards and six scores.
His junior season saw him take a step back in touchdown receptions, as he caught just one, but he totaled 58 receptions overall for 817 yards.
As a senior is where Parham really caught more national attention. That year, in 2018, Parham caught 85 passes for 1,319 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Going into the 2019 NFL Draft, most scouts wanted to see Parham put on some weight before he would be considered a legitimate body as a pro. Because he came from such a small school and was still a raw prospect, Parham went undrafted.
He did end up signing with the Detroit Lions, although he was cut just two days later. Parham tried out for the Washington Redskins at their minicamp, and ultimately signed with the team. In August, though, he was cut loose.