Parker Petersen

Trust the process, don’t give up, don’t skip a day, make it fun — and understand you always have more room to grow.

A blocked punt against Brentwood Academy — I launched the shield player into the punter. It turned the tide of the whole game, and knowing I created that moment changed my whole perspective on what I was capable of.

My biggest doubt was whether I’d ever become big and strong enough to play football effectively at a higher level. It still seemed foreign to me at the time, and I knew I had a long way to go. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to trust the process.

I told my Dad I wanted to play Division I football instead of the path I was on — wrestling. I was too light to play my position (DE) in college, so I had to gain a lot of weight. We knew we had to break ground right away — I had no time to waste to make a name for myself in NCAA recruiting during COVID.

My father was equipped to give me all the information and guidance I needed to stay healthy through this process, all while pushing me past my limits. His medical knowledge always gave me confidence — I knew if I ever hit a real limit, he’d tell me. That is what FirstCall is.