Joran Parker is Ruston's big play threat in the passing game

Josh Brantley and Joran Parker knew this was possible. All they needed was a stage to prove it.

Two games into Ruston’s 2024 season – eyes locked on defending its state title – the Bearcats have their usual run game hitting its stride between Jordan Hayes and Dylone Brooks. Even Brantley, Ruston’s quarterback, has become the third tip of the spear for the offense’s explosive running attack since the midway point of last season.

On the ground, there might not be a team who can match those three one-for-one in the state. That’d be enough to put any opponent on their heels going into a game.

But now, somehow, the Bearcats might be even better. How can they improve an offense that averaged at least 5 yards per carry in 11 of the team’s 14 games last season, led by a near 2,000-yard tailback? Explosive downfield passing.

Ruston can credit its new wrinkle, so far, to an early breakout from senior Joran Parker. Through three wins, Parker has 11 catches for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns — averaging 22.4 yards per catch. He started his year with 3 catches for 105 yards and a score against Acadiana, only to follow up with 5 catches for 113 yards and a touchdown a week later against Cabot, Arkansas.

Last year, he had just 11 catches for 127 yards and 2 scores. So, what’s allowed him to start this fast? Parker feels comfortable in his role.

“I feel that I’m more focused than last year and know my role on the team all the way this season,” Parker said. “ My strong start this season is just my Godgiven talent and my hard work put together with it. I’ve just been locked in this year on making plays and showing and proving that I’m a playmaker.”

To the victor go the spoils. Ruston had a single game last year with a receiver at 100 yards — Logan Malone in the state championship — and just three total between 2022 and 2023.

But if the early signs are an indication, Parker has given the Bearcats a true, consistent, downfield threat.

Brantley certainly believes the Bearcats can keep this up. After all, he expected this coming into the year. He and Parker wanted to show that this offense, while reliant on the run, can be so much more than just a ground-and-pound system.

“We always knew we were capable of doing it,” Brantley said. “Now that we finally have the opportunity to do it, we just choose to make the best of the plays we get. We talk on the sideline during the games about connections we would like to make and what routes they favor play-ing the opposing teams. When we get on the field, it’s just natural.

“Joran has always been one of my slick targets. I think he’s accepted the role of being that guy on the team we have this year. If we need a big-time play, he’s down field for the catch. I trust him. He’s been my [top receiver] since junior high, so that trust has always been there.”

Parker, now a staple in the offense, believes his fast start is only the beginning thanks to the two-way trust between him and his quarterback.

“That’s my brother from another mother,” Parker said of Brantley. “Our bond converts to the field. We make each other better every day. We pick each other up when one of us is down. If I drop a ball or he throws a bad one, we are in each other’s ear immediately giving words of encouragement and we fix it. But I’m helping him prove to the state that he can do everything as a quarterback, and he’s helping me prove that I’m a real threat.”

He knows Brantley is far from done feeding him opportunities, but if it’s not his turn on a play, he’s more than happy to let a loaded offense around him go to work.

“Coming into this season and making the passing game more effective was a big thing we focused on more in the offseason, and we are living up to the expectations of that so far,” Parker said. “It just makes us better as an offense that nobody will be able to stop us – from getting beat up by the O-line, getting ran over by Dylone [Brooks] and Josh, getting outran by Jordan [Hayes, and getting beat in the secondary by me and Ahmad and the other wideouts and tight ends.”

Ruston head coach Jerrod Baugh credits Parker’s hot start to a boost in confidence – crucial to any great receiver having success.

“I think it’s his confidence level,” Baugh said of Parker. “Last year, being his first year back, getting settled in at receiver, nd we played him outside and inside and had him doing a lot of different things. It just took him some time to learn on offense what it is we needed him to do. I think this year, he’s way more comfortable with what we’re asking him to do. And as a receiver, that’s got a lot to do with how well you play with how confident you are in what you’re doing and your playmaking ability. I think that makes all the difference in the world.”