Joel Parker (American football)
# Joel Parker (American football)

Joseph Lee Parker (born April 23, 1952), nicknamed Joel Parker, is an American former college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons in the 1970s. He played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 1974 NFL Draft.

## Early years

Parker was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was a two-sport high school All-American in football and basketball for the Clearwater Tornadoes of Clearwater High School in Clearwater, Florida.

## College career

Parker accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Doug Dickey's Florida Gators football team from 1971 to 1973. Memorably, as a junior in 1972, he had seven catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns in the Gators' 40–0 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats. In an era when the Gators emphasized a running offense, Parker played in 33 games and compiled 43 receptions for 644 yards and five touchdowns. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1974.

## Professional career

The New Orleans Saints chose him in the fifth round, with the 113th overall pick, of the 1974 NFL Draft, and he played for the Saints from 1974 to 1977. During his 1974 rookie season, he caught 41 passes for a total of 455 yards, which is regarded as one of the top five seasons by a Saints rookie wide receiver in the history of the franchise. Parker suffered a season-ending knee injury halfway through the 1975 season, and did not play in 1976, but returned for his third and final season with the Saints in 1977. He appeared in 22 regular season games, and finished his three-year NFL career with 51 receptions for 585 yards and six touchdowns.

