DAVIE, Fla. _ DeVante Parker is hard to ignore during the Miami Dolphins' offseason practices. He's far more active than in past OTA and minicamp sessions, and it appears the Dolphins' 2015 first-round pick is finally ready to live up to his draft status.
Parker was one of the first players training inside the team facility, going as far back as January. And the work seems to have paid off.
His goal is to get past the nagging knee, hamstring and foot injuries that have limited his practice time and curtailed his production the past two seasons. This offseason, Parker hasn't missed a single practice session, which is a welcomed change for Dolphins coaches, who often had to work without him for weeks at a time.
When asked about offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen predicting a "gigantic year" from Parker, the former Louisville standout added, "Coach knows what I can do."
"I just know I wanted to play better than I did last year," said Parker, who caught 56 passes for 744 yards and scored four touchdowns. "I was really big on this because me not being healthy, I couldn't do what I wanted to do."
Parker has the talent to be an alpha receiver, a wide-out who can carry an NFL offense. The biggest concern about him is whether the 24-year-old has the discipline, work ethic and durability to showcase that talent on a regular basis.
Parker said he's created a regimen that keeps his body hydrated better, which was an issue last year. He's also getting stretched by team trainers before and after practice, is eating better, and has set a goal of getting eight hours of sleep a night.
The chemistry he's developing with quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who would benefit from having a big, physical presence running routes, is apparent.
The Dolphins need Parker and his big body to balance out the receiver unit, and coach Adam Gase openly admits he has a greater understanding of what routes Parker's capable of running in their second season together.
"I just feel like 100 percent," Parker said. "I just express myself, let it all out now."
