Jalen Parmele
Encyclopedia
Justin Alexander "Jalen" Parmele (born December 30, 1985 in Boynton Beach, Florida
) is an American football
running back
of the of the National Football League
who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He has also played for the Baltimore Ravens
. He played college football
at Toledo.
for H. H. Dow High School
in Midland, Michigan
. He rushed for 705 yards as a sophomore, 1,253 yards as a junior and 1,507 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior. For his performance as a senior, Parmele was named team MVP
as well as a first-team all-state selection. He was also selected to the league's all-academic team three years.
Parmele also lettered in track
and basketball
.
. He also received scholarship offers from Florida A&M, Western Michigan
and Eastern Michigan
.
As a freshman in 2004, he rushed for 183 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. He appeared in 11 games the following season, rushing for 294 yards and three touchdowns.
Parmele broke out as a junior in 2006, rushing for 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns on his way to a first-team All-MAC
selection. He also caught 16 passes for 128 yards on the season. His rushing total ranked third in the conference behind only Northern Illinois'
Garrett Wolfe
and Ohio's
Kalvin McRae
. He set a career high with 173 rushing yards against Ball State
, and his 92-yard run in that game was the second-longest in school history.
In 12 starts as a senior in 2007, Parmele rushed for a career-high 1,511 yards and 14 touchdowns on the way to his second consecutive first-team All-MAC selection. His rushing total that season ranked ninth in the nation and second in the conference behind only Kent State's Eugene Jarvis. He also caught 17 passes for 157 yards (both personal bests) and the only receiving touchdown of his collegiate career. He surpassed his previous career high with 241 rushing yards in a game against Ohio.
Parmele concluded his four-year collegiate career with 3,119 rushing yards on 589 carries (5.3 avg.) and 28 touchdowns.
, Parmele participated in the NFL Scouting Combine and posted a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. At his Pro Day on February 28, he measured in at 5-foot-11⅜ and 226 pounds. He ran the short shuttle in 4.44 seconds, short cone drill in 6.95 second and had a 41½-inch vertical leap. On April 15, Parmele met with the Miami Dolphins
for a pre-draft visit.
in the sixth round (176th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
.
The pick used to select Parmele was acquired from the Detroit Lions
. Shortly after the draft, Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland
labeled Parmele the No. 3 running back and said he would also be a given a chance to return kickoffs. During June workouts, Parmele worked with the second-team offense and also returned punts.
After spending the first three games of the 2008 regular season inactive, Parmele was waived by the Dolphins on September 24 to make room for tight end
Joey Haynos
on the roster. Parmele was re-signed to the team's practice squad the following day.
off the Dolphins' practice squad on December 9, 2008. He made his NFL debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars
in the regular season finale on December 28, rushing twice for 27 yards. They were his only stats that year.
In his second season with the Ravens in 2009, he made a much bigger impact as he became the team's starting kick returner after rookie Lardarius Webb tore his ACL in Week 15. On only 9 kick-off returns, Parmele racked up 283 yards for a 31.4 average with his longest return being 53 yards. He also added 5 carries for 17 yards as the team's #4 runningback and 6 special teams tackles. He had by this time developed a reputation has a hard worker.
In 2010 Jalen Parmele did not rush once but continued his role as a backup returner.
Jalen Parmele was released by Baltimore
during final cuts on September 3, 2011.
Boynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The population was 60,389 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the city had a population of 66,714 according to the University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business Research...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
of the of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He has also played for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Toledo.
Early years
Parmele attended and played high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
for H. H. Dow High School
Herbert Henry Dow High School
Herbert Henry Dow High School is a public high school located in Midland, Michigan. The school, a part of Midland Public Schools, is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and in 2008 was named one of the top 20 High Schools in Michigan in a study commissioned by US News & World...
in Midland, Michigan
Midland, Michigan
Midland is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan in the Tri-Cities region of the state. It is the county seat of Midland County. The city's population was 41,863 as of the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Midland Micropolitan Statistical Area....
. He rushed for 705 yards as a sophomore, 1,253 yards as a junior and 1,507 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior. For his performance as a senior, Parmele was named team MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
as well as a first-team all-state selection. He was also selected to the league's all-academic team three years.
Parmele also lettered in track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
College career
Parmele went on to attend the University of ToledoUniversity of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
. He also received scholarship offers from Florida A&M, Western Michigan
Western Michigan Broncos football
The Western Michigan Broncos football program represents Western Michigan University in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I and the Mid-American Conference . Western Michigan has competed in football since 1906, when they played three games in their inaugural season...
and Eastern Michigan
Eastern Michigan Eagles football
The Eastern Michigan Eagles are a college football program at Eastern Michigan University. They compete in Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mid-American Conference...
.
As a freshman in 2004, he rushed for 183 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. He appeared in 11 games the following season, rushing for 294 yards and three touchdowns.
Parmele broke out as a junior in 2006, rushing for 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns on his way to a first-team All-MAC
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
selection. He also caught 16 passes for 128 yards on the season. His rushing total ranked third in the conference behind only Northern Illinois'
Northern Illinois Huskies football
The Northern Illinois Huskies football team represents Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference of the NCAA's Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision.-History:...
Garrett Wolfe
Garrett Wolfe
Garrett Wolfe is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Bears in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played his college football at Northern Illinois. He is currently a free agent.-Personal life:...
and Ohio's
Ohio Bobcats football
The Ohio Bobcats football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Ohio University. The team represents the university as a member of the Mid-American Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision level...
Kalvin McRae
Kalvin McRae
Kalvin "Big Play" McRae is an American football running back who was released by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League prior to the beginning of training camp. He was originally signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2008...
. He set a career high with 173 rushing yards against Ball State
Ball State Cardinals football
The Ball State Cardinals football team represents Ball State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Mid-American Conference .-Recent history:...
, and his 92-yard run in that game was the second-longest in school history.
In 12 starts as a senior in 2007, Parmele rushed for a career-high 1,511 yards and 14 touchdowns on the way to his second consecutive first-team All-MAC selection. His rushing total that season ranked ninth in the nation and second in the conference behind only Kent State's Eugene Jarvis. He also caught 17 passes for 157 yards (both personal bests) and the only receiving touchdown of his collegiate career. He surpassed his previous career high with 241 rushing yards in a game against Ohio.
Parmele concluded his four-year collegiate career with 3,119 rushing yards on 589 carries (5.3 avg.) and 28 touchdowns.
Statistics
| Career Statistics | |||||||||||
| Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | G | Att | Yds | TD | Lng | Avg. | Rec. | Yds | TD | Lng | Avg. |
| 2004 | 9 | 42 | 183 | 3 | 21 | 4.4 | 4 | 24 | 0 | 15 | 6.0 |
| 2005 | 11 | 64 | 294 | 3 | 26 | 4.6 | 4 | 41 | 0 | 17 | 10.3 |
| 2006 | 12 | 207 | 1,131 | 8 | 92 | 5.5 | 16 | 128 | 0 | 25 | 8.0 |
| 2007 | 12 | 276 | 1,511 | 14 | 54 | 5.5 | 17 | 157 | 1 | 28 | 9.2 |
| Total | 44 | 589 | 3,119 | 28 | 92 | 5.3 | 41 | 350 | 1 | 28 | 8.5 |
Pre-draft
Prior to the 2008 NFL Draft2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
, Parmele participated in the NFL Scouting Combine and posted a 4.47-second 40-yard dash. At his Pro Day on February 28, he measured in at 5-foot-11⅜ and 226 pounds. He ran the short shuttle in 4.44 seconds, short cone drill in 6.95 second and had a 41½-inch vertical leap. On April 15, Parmele met with the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for a pre-draft visit.
Miami Dolphins
Parmele was drafted by the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the sixth round (176th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
.
The pick used to select Parmele was acquired from the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. Shortly after the draft, Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland
Jeff Ireland
Jeff Ireland is the General Manager for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He has previously served as an executive for the Dallas Cowboys, a scout for the Kansas City Chiefs and an assistant coach for the North Texas Mean Green. He played college football for the Baylor Bears...
labeled Parmele the No. 3 running back and said he would also be a given a chance to return kickoffs. During June workouts, Parmele worked with the second-team offense and also returned punts.
After spending the first three games of the 2008 regular season inactive, Parmele was waived by the Dolphins on September 24 to make room for tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Joey Haynos
Joey Haynos
Joey Haynos is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
on the roster. Parmele was re-signed to the team's practice squad the following day.
Baltimore Ravens
Parmele was signed by the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
off the Dolphins' practice squad on December 9, 2008. He made his NFL debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the regular season finale on December 28, rushing twice for 27 yards. They were his only stats that year.
In his second season with the Ravens in 2009, he made a much bigger impact as he became the team's starting kick returner after rookie Lardarius Webb tore his ACL in Week 15. On only 9 kick-off returns, Parmele racked up 283 yards for a 31.4 average with his longest return being 53 yards. He also added 5 carries for 17 yards as the team's #4 runningback and 6 special teams tackles. He had by this time developed a reputation has a hard worker.
In 2010 Jalen Parmele did not rush once but continued his role as a backup returner.
Jalen Parmele was released by Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
during final cuts on September 3, 2011.