FB Parrott put on scholarship
On the eve of spring semester classes starting at the University of Miami, walk-on fullback Michael Parrott learned he was put on scholarship during a team meeting that drew an emotional response from him and his teammates.
A video the Hurricanes released on Twitter Monday afternoon showed coach Manny Diaz wrapping up the team meeting Sunday night — the same day incoming freshmen early enrollees were moving in on campus.
“We’re done. One thing I get to do before, that’s pretty freaking cool, is I got a scholarship to hand out,” Diaz said in the video.
A second camera went to an elated Parrott, who had teammates sitting near him, including quarterbacks N’Kosi Perry and Tate Martell, running back Cam’Ron Harris and punter Lou Hedley, celebrate with him as he was given the good news.
Parrott, who will be a redshirt junior in the fall of 2020, played in 10 games for the Hurricanes in 2019, mostly on special teams. He surpassed Realus George for rare fullback opportunities under former offensive coordinator Dan Enos, catching only two passes for 13 yards.
On special teams, Parrott had three tackles (two solo) last season.
George ended up transferring out of Miami. He announced on Thursday night that he will join Independence CC in Kansas, a junior college which has been featured on the Netflix series “Last Chance U.”
The decision to announce a walk-on getting put on scholarship in front of the team and then publicize it on social media is new for the Hurricanes.
When former walk-on special teamer and running back Jimmy Murphy was put on scholarship in 2018 under former coach Mark Richt, it was done privately.
Rousseau adds honors: Defensive end Greg Rousseau added to his lengthy list of postseason accolades Monday, following a breakthrough redshirt freshman season.
Rousseau was named to the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America Team. He was second in college football to Ohio State’s Chase Young with 15 1⁄2 sacks, also was named All-ACC First Team and FWAA All-America Second Team and won ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and Freshman AllAmerica honors from USA Today and The Athletic.