2026 4-star OL Da'Ron Parks transfers to Nitro (W.V.)

For 2026 4-star offensive lineman Da’Ron Parks, it truly was take him home back to the country roads.

On Friday, Parks announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he is leaving the Sunshine State and heading back home to West Virginia to play for Nitro (W.V.), transferring from Cardinal Mooney (Fla.).

For my sr year of high school, i will be coming back to WV and attending @RecruitNitroHS – Da’Ron Parks via X

Parks is the No. 400 overall recruit in the 2026 Rivals Industry Ranking and now No. 1 ranked prospect in all of West Virginia. The 6-foot-4 and 360-pound prospect was a top-75 player in Florida for Cardinal Mooney. 

Before Parks ever landed at Cardinal Mooney, he played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Hurricane (W.V.).

The move for Parks to the Wildcats instantly makes Nitro a state championship contending team out of the WVSSAC’s AAA classification. Nitro finished 10-2 last season, reaching the AAA quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Bridgeport, 70-21.

Nitro have to replace a lot offensively, however, after graduating quarterback Josh Moody (3,846 yards, 40 touchdowns in 2024) and leading rusher Eli Littlejohn, who rushed for 1,261 yards and scored 22 times in 2024.

The 4-star offensive lineman leaves a Cardinal Mooney program that is slated to contend for the Class 2A state championship within the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). Cardinal Mooney won a state title in 2023 and reached the state semifinals last year, falling to eventual champ Cocoa, 31-21.

Parks helped pave the way for a Cardinal Mooney offense that rushed for 3,999 yards on the ground and scored 56 touchdowns in 2024.

Cardinal Mooney has over a half dozen Power 4 level players dotted across its roster, including 2026 4-star defensive lineman Elijah Golden, Purdue commit Kymistrii Young, Indiana commit Laron Dues, Liberty commit Macaiden Brown and Western Kentucky commit Bryce Fulda.

Despite the departure of Parks, the Cougars figure to still remain one of the top teams out of Florida’s Class 2A.

Parks and the Wildcats open the 2025 season at home against Hedgesville on Aug. 29.