Parkersburg High School quarterback David Parsons, center front, signed with Morehead State University on Wednesday. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

PARKERSBURG — The process is ongoing for Parkersburg High School record-setting signal-caller David Parsons, but after Wednesday’s national signing day he’ll continue to work on his craft for Division I FCS Morehead State University first-year head coach Jason Woodman.

“I’ve been to Morehead,” said the 6-foot-3 Parsons, who holds eight red and white records, had a 4.1 GPA last term and plans to major in business. “I went down for a camp this past summer and then I went down for a game day visit this fall and I just went back down again this past weekend. I committed on the fourth.

“I’m not paying a dollar. I’ve had a lot of talks with the head coach. He’s prone to playing freshmen. He’s not against it at all. If I’m the better player then he’s going to play me. Going into it I’m looking at it like it’s my spot until they tell me it’s not. That’s how I’m looking at it moving forward.”

The first team Class AAA all-state quarterback led the Big Reds to the state quarterfinals. His 2,731 yards and 33 touchdown strikes set single-season marks.

“It was never really planned for me to do that,” Parsons admitted of his records that also include career total offense (6,592), passing yards (6,108), touchdowns (67) and completions (428) along with total offense (506 vs. South) and completion percentage in a game (9 of 10 vs. Capital).

“I guess Marc Kimes is the GOAT of PHS people say. He won two championships. I think that’s the advantage he’s got on me. I’m not really too prone to the records. I mean I love it. Don’t get it twisted, but it’s more I’d rather have won a championship at the end of the day. My favorite one has probably got to be the all-time yards. That’s special.”

Parsons admitted everything involved with trying to figure out where to go to school was taxing.

“Recruiting, it’s tough because it’s a lot of coaches just telling you the same thing,” he said. “I didn’t get my first Division I offer until December, just a couple months ago. I was kind of worried about where I’m going to go and then a couple schools rolled in. VMI was first and then Morehead State and then Bucknell, and then WVU gave me a preferred walk-on. I was still in contact with some other FCS schools.

“I was kind of like I don’t know where I’m going to go. I went down to my official visit at Morehead State and it just felt like the right place. It felt like it was somewhere I could strive and somewhere I could be successful at, and especially with Anthony (Ice) getting the scholarship offer. I was like why not? Me and my parents sat down, talked it over and I felt like it was the best place for me.”

Ice, who was Parsons’ slot receiver, also signed with the Eagles on Wednesday.

“We’ve been playing together since peewee,” Parsons added. “It was kind of like why not, but at the same time it wasn’t like we had to do this together. It wasn’t really a plan, but once we got the offers it was like why not do it.”

Although away from home, MSU isn’t too far as Parsons said he can make it to campus in sub three hours.

“It’s cool to get away, but at the same time I’m still close enough to home where I don’t feel like nobody can come to my games,” said the Big Red. “My family will still be able to come and watch me. It will be cool just to be close to everybody.

“I really liked the campus. The campus is nice. It’s a little smaller. It’s not like one of these big, big schools. It’s kind of a more rural area I would say. It’s nice though. It kind of felt like home away from home.”

While Parsons’ days of competing at Stadium Field are over, PHS head coach Matt Kimes enjoyed the two seasons he had the signal-caller.

“He was a kid that has always had all the physical tools to be a college player,” noted coach Kimes. “He bought into the things that we needed from him to be a leader of our team.

“He matured so much physically and mentally over the last year which has prepared him to take this next step in his career. I’m confident that he is ready for this next chapter in his life and I can’t wait to watch him compete at the next level.”

Making the adjustment to the student-athlete life in college is something Parsons knows he has to be prepared for.

“I’m ready to embrace it and I’m excited, but I’m also nervous,” Parsons admitted. “I’m going to be on my own a little bit. With Anthony I think that gives me more of a shoulder to lean on coming from the same high school knowing that we are going to do it together.

“That makes me feel more comfortable about it looking forward. It’s a big difference. I’m just trying to soak in these last couple months of what I got in high school and move on with the rest of my life and hopefully be successful.”

The all-stater continued “high school was cool and it was fun and everything, but it’s always been a setup to get to the Division I level. I think coach Woodman and his staff can offer me things my high school staff couldn’t teach me. It was a build up for me really. It was more of a stepping stone to a longer thing.

“Coach Kimes and coach (Alex) Ash and the other people I worked with the most, coach (Sean) Smith. They taught me a lot of things and that’s how I got to the level I wanted to be, but there’s only so much they can teach me and so much that they know compared to what these guys know at the college level.”

Parsons said if MSU would’ve been a run first program he wouldn’t have entertained the idea to go there.

“He likes to throw the ball around and get creative with it. That’s one thing I’ll like about playing for him and I’m looking forward to,” said Parsons, who replied when asked to describe himself as a quarterback “I put myself first as a leader. I think I have a certain persona and I carry myself a certain way to people, you know, kind of look at me like I want to be like him. I want to follow him as far as football goes.

“I think that’s a big part of playing quarterback because if you can’t communicate and have a relationship with all your players you’re not going to be on the same page come Friday night or Saturday for a football game. I think that’s the first thing, but secondly I think of myself as a big playmaker. I get my guys the ball in space and I let them make plays. I’m a winner, I think. You know, I try to win. That’s first and foremost, for sure. Those three things I think make me up as a quarterback the most.”

Always willing to do whatever is best for the team, Parsons said he has no issues running with the pigskin if his number is called.

“Really, I’d rather sit in the pocket and throw the ball,” he said. “I’m a pass-first pro-style type, but I don’t mind running the ball either. I made a lot of plays this year with my legs. I had five rushing touchdowns and I ran for a couple hundred yards. I’d rather sit back there and deliver, but at the same time if I need to get on the ground I’ll run.”

Parsons said a redshirt had been discussed with coach Woodman.

“If you redshirt now in college football I think you can still play four games,” Parsons continued. “If I’m not the day one starter I think he’s kind of giving me the option on what I want to do.

“I want to play football for as long as I can and redshirt is a possibility if I’m not the day one guy then maybe redshirt is the route I go.”

The quarterback said he was “ready to go” and wouldn’t be shedding any tears upon leaving PHS, but his time as a Big Red has etched a place into his heart.

“Looking back on it, it’s the relationships,” Parsons said of what he’ll remember the most. “We were 15-, 16-, 17-, 18-years old at the time and it’s the best time of your life everybody always says. I created a lot of bonds and a lot of friendships. Even my teachers and just the people I talk to in my everyday life.

“You know, it’s just something I’ll never forget. I think looking back on it I already miss it. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like here soon. The biggest thing is just the relationships and the bonds that I’ve built and the people I’ve connected with.”

Hopefully, that also includes younger gridiron players because Parsons has a message for them.

“I just want people to see that and be like, if he can do it why can’t I,” he added. “I just want everybody to know that college is right there.

“You just got to go take it. Everybody has the same opportunity. What are you going to do with it?”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com