TOP AREA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES OF THE LAST 30 YEARS: AJ PARKER

By Mike Tupa

Sept. 1, 2025

BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT

During his nearly 30 years of covering area high school sports for either the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise or the Bartlesville Area Sports Report, Mike Tupa has enjoyed the opportunity to observe some incredible athletes.

This is an ongoing series highlighting each few days one of those athletes from the 1996-97 school year through the present. The list is not in chronological order. The athletes are presented in random sequence.

TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT

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A.J. PARKER (Bartlesville)

Multiple sports (early-to-mid-2010s)

Parker’s athletic ability and achievements tower high in the history of Bartlesville-area sports.

He’s one of three College/Bartlesville High School graduates the past 100 years to start in the NFL — the others being David Baker and Bobby Joe Green, mainly in the 1960s.

Parker’s journey to the NFL was not an easy one. Following an outstanding college career as a defensive back at Kansas State, Parker went undrafted in 2021.

But the Detroit Lions signed him in May 2021 as a rookie free agent. With tangled odds strewn along the rugged path ahead of him, Parker kept battling and working hard and impressing the Lions’ coaches. When the day of the final cut arrived, Parker had made the 53-man roster.

He would turn in a solid rookie season in 2021, appearing in 13 of 17 games — including seven starts — at a defensive back position.

He racked up 50 tackles (39 solo) — including one tackle for loss — defended seven passes, intercepted a pass from Baker Mayfield, and forced a fumble against Green Bay.

That turnover set up a Detroit score in a stunning upset of Green Bay.

During his second season (2022) Parker was edged off the roster at the start of the season and went to the Lions’ practice squad.

But later in the campaign, Detroit called him up for three games, during which he made 11 tackles (10 solo).

Detroit released him after the 2022 season and he signed with San Francisco. He remained with San Francisco for several months but suffered an injury in preseason and didn’t make the final cut. 

After San Francisco released him he signed well into the 2023 season with Carolina. In his only appearance with Carolina he made four tackles (one solo).

Parker hasn’t played since 2023. During his three seasons he played in 17 games (seven starts) and piled up 65 tackles (50 solo). He was the first high school graduate from Bartlesville to play in the NFL in nearly 50 years.

Parker’s impact on Bartlesville High athletics looms gigantic.

He was a senior on the 2015-16 Bruin team that stormed to a 10-2 record — including a 9-1 regular season record. Parker dominated both at receiver and in the defensive backfield; he averaged a touchdown almost every other reception.

He earned Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State honors and with multiple publications. 

When basketball season rolled around each year, Parker brought incredible focus and athleticism to the court. Despite standing just 5-foot-11 he had the ability to dominate the action in his sector of the floor. 

With his vertical he could have tweaked the nose of the Big Man in “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

Parker’s jumping ability took center stage during track season — when he set the school record at 6-foot-10 and won state medals in back-to-back years. He won the state bronze medal three times in the boys high jump (2014, 2015, 2016).

Following his Bartlesville years, Parker starred on the gridiron for Kansas State. His highlights during those years multiplied:

— Thorpe Award Player of the Week (2020).

— Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week (2020).

— A 37-yard pick-six in a win against TCU (2020).

— Three interceptions in 2019, despite missing the final four games due to injury (second-most picks in Big 12, 17th most nationally).

— Honorable Mention All-Big 12 (2019).

— Started all 12 games as a sophomore (2018).

— 53 tackles (2018).

— Multiple punt blocks.

A decade after he last suited up for Bartlesville, Parker’s impact remains immense.

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This series has included the following athletes, who are listed in no particular order.

-Jena’ Williams, Bartlesville

-Eric Rolfs, Bartlesville

-Chris Smith, Caney Valley

-Jill Bryan, Copan

-Barron Tanner Jr, Bartlesville

-Hailey Tucker, Bartlesville

-Jeremy Dunkle, Dewey

-Whitney Metcalf, Bartlesville

-Tim Hamilton, Bartlesville

-Danielle Koster, Bartlesville

-Carson LaRue, Dewey

-John Hamman, Wesleyan Christian

-Jamie Elam, Caney Valley

-Sam Mitchell, Bartlesville

-Karissa Jones, Dewey

-Noah Hartsock, Bartlesville

-Tiffany Paper, Copan

AJ Parker