Donald Parham, the Lakeland, FL native and recent Stetson graduate, has been slowly making a name for himself in the new professional football league, the XFL. He currently plays for the Dallas Renegades and through two games has been a key asset to their offense.

Parham – a 6’8 TE with a 7-foot wingspan – came to Stetson following his final year at Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland Florida. 

At Stetson, Parham worked his way into a TE role and began to make a name for himself in his junior season. Parham’s senior campaign was one to remember where he amassed 1319 receiving yards as well as 13 touchdowns. Parham finished his career as the all-time leader in receptions for Stetson with a total of 180, as well as receiving yards with 2591. Parham also was named a first team AP All-American. 

Parham signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent and was then released and picked up by the Washington Redskins. He unfortunately did not make an NFL roster during the regular season, which led to an opportunity with the XFL. The XFL is a professional football league founded by WWE founder Vince McMahon. The XFL ran for one season in 2001 and came back this year to make another run at professional football.

Parham was drafted by the Dallas Renegades in the 9th round and quickly went to work. In two games so far, Parham has caught 20 passes for 217 yards as well as three touchdowns. Each week he is setting himself apart from the other offensive targets in the league and showing why he deserves to be on an NFL roster.

I spoke with Parham about the new league and he told me, “It’s an experience. It’s a working progress and it’s coming together really well.” 

With any new league, there can be a lot of kinks and struggles that need to be taken care of, yet the XFL seems to be running smoothly and Parham is happy with where he is. “Everybody is really cool,” Parham said, “We all have an end goal at the end of the day and want to take care of each other; it’s a brotherhood.”

Parham will continue to play for the Dallas Renegades and work hard to eventually make an NFL roster. With the way he has been playing and working, the goal seems closer and closer each day.