One West Virginia native transferred out-of-state to finish his prep football career in Florida. However, he still seems to be considering a return home to join WVU football to continue his career at the collegiate level -- and fans should be hopeful he'll make that choice.
Da’Ron Parks, ranked a four-star offensive lineman by both Rivals and the 247Sports Composite Rankings, announced his Top 12 last month -- and the Mountaineers made the cut. A former top in-state prospect before transferring high schools, Parks is a highly sought-after lineman by many of the top college football programs in the country.
2026 OT @DaRon__Parks has dropped his Top 12 👀
— Cardinal Mooney Football (@Mooney_FB) June 19, 2025
Where’s home for one of the country’s top tackles? pic.twitter.com/sCrxBn5XxZ
Currently playing for Cardinal Mooney in Sarasota, Fla., Parks originally started his high school career at Hurricane High School in Hurricane, West Virginia, before seeking greener pastures in the Sunshine State.
Parks is a high-ceiling recruit that could make a major impact for WVU and Coach Rodriguez would love to have inside the program -- Rivals has Parks listed as the 213th-best overall prospect in the Class of 2026, and is also ranked him as the 27th best player in the state of Florida. He has impressed with his footage from camps this offseason, bullying elite defensive line talent and displaying what Under Armour All-America Game Director Billy Tucker referred to as "impressive mobility at his size."
Da’Ron Parks (No. 3 IOL in the USA Today FL Top 100) has impressed all offseason.
— Nick Wilson (@NickWilsonUSAT) May 1, 2025
He’s close to narrowing down his list of finalists. Just locked in an OV w/ FSU, plus has Penn State, Auburn, and Kentucky scheduled. pic.twitter.com/InRzdRi2bX
ESPN Jr. 300 No. 181 Da’Ron Parks getting into drill work 💪 @DaRon__Parks
— Billy Tucker (@TheUCReport) February 23, 2025
Impressive mobility at his size #UANext pic.twitter.com/984wtdDy0O
The 6’5” 325-pounder is predicted by Rivals to commit to Auburn. But if he chooses WVU, he could join a growing list of homegrown offensive and defensive linemen to become critical fixtures for the Mountaineers in recent years, including Zach Frazier (Fairmont Senior), Nick Malone (Morgantown), Sean martin (Bluefield), Doug Nester (Spring Valley), Dante Stills (Fairmont Senior), Darius Stills (Fairmont Senior), and Wyatt Milum (Spring Valley).
Even with an expansive list of 12 schools still in play, West Virginia is not out of the running at all for Parks. Could a massive four-star recruit be on his way home and play for the Old Gold and Blue? WVU fans will have to play the waiting game and see what happens.