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Zone Read: Parker Navarro Unplugged

Eric Sorenson
Arizona Sports News online

Good things come to those who wait.

Like many, Parker Navarro’s college football journey has taken a unique path, from balmy big city Orlando, to Athens, Ohio – with a population of around 25,000.

Earlier this week “Zone Read” caught up with the former Desert Vista High standout quarterback, who has made a name for himself not only at Ohio University, but throughout the Mid-American Conference leading the Bobcats to a MAC Championship and birth in the Cure Bowl against Jacksonville State later this month in, coincidentally, Orlando where he started his career at Central Florida.

For those who aren’t familiar with the back story, how did you end up at Ohio after leaving UCF and entering the transfer portal? “Ohio was one of the teams that came in the portal and offered me. I’m not sure how they knew about me. They may have known some people on staff at UCF and said good things about me. So, that’s where the offer came from.

“In terms of me [coming here], at the time, they were coming off a 3-9 season and they needed some help. I was like, ‘Sweet, I like the system.’ It fit my strengths as a quarterback and that’s why I chose [to come here].”

Did you, even just for a minute, think, ‘I’m going from Orlando, Florida and Athens, Ohio? (laughing) “Actually, I did. Absolutely. Completely different. Big city to small town. It truly was a big shock, but I actually really enjoy the slow pace of life.”

One of the things I really respect about you is you waited your turn at Ohio, when you could have easily packed up and jumped back in the portal. How did you approach that your first two years there before you got your turn in last year’s bowl game and completely balled out? “It’s been a big test of patience for me throughout this whole process. Just having a lot of trust that the right thing will happen at the right time. When I made that transfer from UCF, it was difficult, but I knew wherever I went, that’s where I was going to be for a good amount of time. So, I’m going to have to make it work and trust that everything was going to work out…this is the place I chose. Either I’m going to make it happen, or I’m not.

“That was always my mentality. I don’t think there was ever a thought in my mind, ‘I’m going to leave again.’ That’s just not who I am.”

As mentioned, you got your first start in the bowl game, about a year ago, against Georgia Southern, and played quite well. How much confidence did that one game game give you going into this past off-season knowing you’d probably be the guy this fall? “I think, really what it was, was just me playing a whole game and starting. I was like, ‘Man, I can do that. I’m capable of doing that. I’m capable of winning games.’ It really gave me a ton of confidence and belief that I can do this.”

The quarterback you played behind the last three years, Kurtis Rourke, obviously, went in the portal. Now he’s at Indiana getting ready to play Notre Dame in the College Football Playoffs. He was a pretty big deal at Ohio, now he’s a national name. What did you take away most from him when he was starting there? “Kurtis and I are very close friends. He’s a stickler, just like [Oregon quarterback and former UCF teammate] Dillon Gabriel, for preparation. They’re staying late, they’re watching extra film. I think the biggest thing watching him was, if I want to be in this position, it’s going to take a little more. It’s going to take more of my time watching more film, staying after practice, getting up early. That’s the nature of the position. If this is something that [I] really want, that has to be a priority. 

“Kurtis absolutely showed me that, and that’s one thing I learned from him.”

How proud are you to see Kurtis have so much success playing on a bigger stage in the Big 10? “It’s awesome to see. Like I said, he and I are really good friends. I was in his wedding. You know, it’s really cool to see someone with such great character to have so much success. He’s got great humility in what he does. It’s been awesome. He’s a ton of fun to watch play.”

The MAC is notorious for their mid-week games. How different is that preparing for a game in that window and not playing on a traditional Saturday like the majority of college football teams do? “You get used to it. I mean, the first week, going into the mid-week is a little weird because you have school and then you’re not playing on the weekends. After that first week of preparation and you get rolling into those mid-weeks, you definitely get used to the schedule.”

What’s the coldest game you played in this year? (laughing) “We played Ball State at home, right before we played in the MAC Championship. It was low 30’s, high 20’s with wind. I think it was single digits with the wind chill. It was snowing at that game. It was my first snow game.”

You’re approaching 1,000 yards rushing and you already have 15 touchdowns on the ground. Did they tweak the scheme a little bit this season to get your legs more involved? “I think I’ve always been an elusive quarterback and that plays into the system that we have. I’m not the fastest guy in the world by any means. I will say I’m pretty elusive and I can get chunk plays, but I’m not a blazer by any means.”

You mentioned the MAC Championship. You got to hoist that trophy last weekend against Miami, a team that beat you in the regular season. What worked the second time around against the Red Hawks? “We had a lot of players out the first time. We had two linemen that were hurt. We took in a lot of confidence knowing we had some key guys back. Not only that, we knew we didn’t play our best game and we didn’t execute as we should, and our coaches put together a great game to take what they gave us and they prepared us well for that game.”

I spoke to Coleman Owen for this column before the season started and he went out his way to talk about how you helped him feel comfortable at Ohio after he transferred in from NAU. Incredible wide receiver and playmaker. What’s been the best part about not only getting to know him, but having so much success with him as your favorite target in the offense? “Man, it’s really been an unbelievable blessing to have Coleman in my life. I think the Lord kind of put each other in our lives for a reason. Both of us share common faith. We’re both Christians. That’s definitely bonded us. We’ve provided encouragement for one another. Immediately when he got here, we clicked as friends. That guy is one of my best friends. He’s going to be in my wedding. 100 percent.

“He’s an unbelievable talent, and to have that friendship come first, but to have the success we’ve had, and the season he’s had, you can’t make it up. It’s surreal. And to go all the way and win the [MAC] Championship, it just means the world to me. That guy is going to get a shot at the next level, no doubt in my mind.”

Were you pretty excited to have another Arizona kid on the roster? “Oh, definitely. I hosted him on his visit and I was totally trying to sell him to come here because I would love another Arizona guy to be here. Once he got here and we started throwing it around, I was like, ‘Man, this guy’s good.’

“He just gets open. He wins. He wins in man coverage. When you get him the ball in space, he’s so quick and shifty. When you get him the ball, he’s going to make an explosive play. That’s what makes him so special.”

When your playing days are over, would you ever want to coach? “I think high school would be so fun to coach, I really do. I haven’t really thought about [coaching] college, that’s a tough life. It’s definitely not for everyone. I think in high school you have an opportunity to impact kids’ lives and you get stay in the game, selfishly, and have fun doing it. It’s definitely been a thought that’s crossed my mind.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Valley native, Eric has had a passion for the Arizona sports scene since an early age. He has covered some of the biggest events including Super Bowls, national championships and the NBA and MLB playoffs in his near 20 years in local media.

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