T.J. Parker enters the 2025 college football season as the top returning edge defender in the country after a dominant sophomore campaign that saw him post 12 sacks and lead all returning Power Four edge rushers in that category. He also forced six fumbles and graded out above 80.0 as both a pass rusher and a run defender—putting him in rare company. At 6'3", 265 pounds, Parker is a violent, heavy-handed bull rusher with the ability to collapse pockets, shed blocks with authority, and finish with bad intentions. While his get-off and bend aren’t elite, his play strength, length, and finishing ability make him a force on every down. He projects best in an even front as a 4-3 defensive end but has shown enough versatility to kick inside on passing downs or play as a 3-4 base end in heavier looks. With another year of refinement, particularly in his hand counters and pass-rush plan, Parker has top-10 potential and could push for EDGE1 status in the 2026 NFL Draft.