Junior Day report: Colby Parkinson
Rivals100 tight end Colby Parkinson's first trip to Stanford as a Cardinal commit was a successful one. Parkinson, who previously visited The Farm for a camp over summer and a game in the fall, was in attendance for Stanford's first Junior Day of the 2017 recruiting cycle over the weekend.
"It went great," Parkinson said. "I'm so excited be up there in a year-and-a-half. Being up there after the commitment is so different than being there before. Knowing that you'll go to a school like that is pretty humbling and pretty amazing."
Parkinson partook in a variety of Junior Day activities while on campus.
"Probably one of my favorite things was talking to Coach Turley, the strength and conditioning coach, about his philosophy about everything," Parkinson said. "It's not all focused on being as big as you can, but being as functional as you can.
"One of my other favorite parts was watching a spring practice and just seeing how Coach Turner interacts with the tight ends and Coach Shaw interacts with the entire program during the practice and how the practice runs and how rapid the pace is."
The four-star standout also had a chance to sit down with several Cardinal coaches while he was on campus.
"After everyone had left actually yesterday I hung around for a little bit and talked to Coach Turner and Coach Shaw for about 20, 30 minutes," Parkinson said.
"School-wise, they're saying to keep my grades (up) and I'll actually be applying sometime next month," said Parkinson, who will hope to receive a decision from Stanford's admissions office over summer.
"Football-wise, they're saying keep up my speed, keep up my weight - not necessarily put on a bunch of weight, but more about me staying in good shape. And also trying to get me to recruit some of the other guys that were up there on the visit - talk to them, try to get them to come to Stanford. Seeing them at the Junior Day I think is really good for them to see how great of a school Stanford is."
Parkinson chatted with the likes of Foster Sarell and Jaelan Phillips over the weekend. He also picked the brain of Stanford signee K.J. Costello, who was on campus, about how Costello helped try to recruit the 2016 class.
He was also able to spend time with some current Stanford players, including his visit host, freshman receiver Trent Irwin.
"Everyone goes in with these high expectations for the academics and that they're not maybe going to be able to handle it," Parkinson said. "Trent was saying it's hard, you have to do your work and everything, but if you do the work you'll get by just fine. And that was really good to know so I don't have these unrealistic expectations."
The Oaks Christian High School standout was already familiar with numerous parts of Stanford University and the Cardinal football prior to the visit, but seeing the program as a committed prospect provided a different perspective.
"I think just seeing the school after my commitment, it's just a different feel," Parkinson said. "It's overwhelming almost to know that I'll go to a school like that and play football for a top football program in the country and have the best academics in the country as well."
Parkinson should have several additional opportunities to continue to familiarize himself with Stanford in the coming months. He doesn't have any future trips to The Farm set in stone, but he is planning to participate Oakland Opening Regional in May - he'll likely swing by Stanford's campus while in the area.
Either way, he remains very solid in his Cardinal commitment.
"I'm set on Stanford," Parkinson said. "There's not a whole lot that could change my mind. Obviously I'm not blind to the fact that crazier things have happened than me not ending up there, but that wouldn't be on my own accord. I'm there and I'm good to go and I', not going to worry about any other schools."