'Once a Dawg, always a Dawg': Noah Parker explains why he's always wanted to play for Georgia
New Georgia running back commit Noah Parker has known where he wanted to play in college for a long time.
Parker has always wanted to be a Bulldog, playing between the hedges at Sanford Stadium. He’s dreamt of playing for a program that has produced great running backs like Herschel Walker, Todd Gurley, and Nick Chubb.
“It feels great to stay home,” Parker told UGASports. “I’m an in-state guy, so just staying home feels great. I’m not too far from my parents, the community, and things like that. Staying home really means a lot.”
Parker had to work extremely hard to get his offer from Georgia, though.
After attending a camp and working out for the coaching staff in May, running backs coach Josh Crawford extended an offer to Parker. He was amazed and had a “wow” moment when he was finally offered.
“It felt great that Coach Crawford offered me,” Parker said earlier this year. “It happened because I was showing out at camp during agility drills and routes on air. All that stuff was just great, and he was just giving me feedback. Then he was like, ‘You earned this offer. Congratulations.’ It was an exciting moment.”
Getting the ‘green light’
Parker and Crawford continued to develop their relationship over the summer. He then attended the Kentucky game in October, and that’s when he knew that he wanted to be a Bulldog, confirming his childhood dream.
Recently, Parker received a call from Crawford, who gave him the “green light” to commit.
“It was an unexpected call, and (Coach Crawford) was just basically giving me the rundown of everything,” Parker said. “I’m his guy, and he was just saying, ‘You’re my guy. Man, I’m putting everything into you.’ It was just a great moment, and I cherished it. It was just a great moment for him to let me know that.”
Parker wanted to make his commitment known during his next gameday visit, which happened to be when Georgia hosted Texas. He wanted to officially commit in one of his favorite places: Sanford Stadium.
“I just wanted the moment to feel surreal,” Parker said.
Having Georgia ties
Parker hails from Montezuma, Ga., which is also the hometown of former Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith.
Parker said he and the 2017 Butkus Award winner talk from “time to time.”
“Roquan and I, we always talk, man,” Parker said of Smith. “He’s a great guy. We talk from time to time. He just gives me advice to help me out. Throughout this recruitment, he’s been a very big part of it from the NIL standpoint, in the school’s decision-making, in Georgia’s standards, and in the development they have.”
Parker mentioned that part of the reason he’s always wanted to be a Bulldog was because of Smith. He watched as Smith helped lead Georgia to its first national championship apperance in over 35 years in 2017.
Parker saw how well Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and his staff developed Smith and other players.
“Throughout the program and history, Georgia has developed a lot of players,” Parker said. “I think they’re number one with the development of players into the NFL. That’s something I want to be a part of.”
‘Once a dawg, always a dawg’
Parker plays for Macon County High School, whose mascot is the Bulldogs.
The three-star running back thought of an interesting saying that sums up his football career so far.
“Once a dawg, always a dawg,” Parker said. “I like that.”
Macon County is located in the middle of the Peach State, and Parker acknowledged that is where the best football is played. He said that portion of Georgia produces some of the “grittiest” and “toughest” players.
Parker takes pride in being from the Peach State, and he’s proud to represent at the next level as a Bulldog.
“I’m from Georgia. Grew up here all my life. Been a Bulldog fan all my life,” Parker said. “I’ve been a Georgia fan since I was a little boy. Just grew up watching Georgia. I always wanted to come, wanted to go there. To finally get this opportunity and turn dreams into reality —it’s crazy.”