Senior Features: Pinnix-Odrick, Parker, Johnson
Oct 12 | Football
Julian Pinnix-Odrick: JPO
By Stephanie Mamakas
Out at recess in elementary school, Julian Pinnix-Odrick was often one of the first players selected for a pickup game of football. However, the now 6-5, 274-pound defensive lineman's stature may have deceived his peers of his ability in competition.
"I knew nothing about the game," said Pinnix-Odrick. "I knew it was fun. I knew all the guys were playing it. I was the big kid that everybody picked, but sometimes were disappointed in what you got out of him just because I didn't really know the game as well. They were saying things that I really didn't understand."
Pinnix-Odrick's love and knowledge of the game quickly grew, especially with influences of his older half-brother Jared Odrick, a defensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars. As football became big in his brother's life, it also became bigger for the family. Attending his brother's collegiate games mixed with hours of NFL Network programming, Pinnix-Odrick began to emulate the family's passion for the game. The younger brother who once knew nothing of the sport turned into the budding star playing street ball with his friends every single day whether it were a weekday, weeknight or even holiday.
The constant practice transformed the once misleading pick at recess into a prospect in the eyes of college recruiters. With advice from his high school coach, the Montclair, New Jersey, native hyphenated his name to be more recognizable as the sibling of his half-brother in the NFL.
While the hyphened last name aided in getting a spot on a Division I team, Pinnix-Odrick soon grew to three short letters - JPO. A nickname stemming from a former coach at Rutgers that professed his name was too long shows Pinnix-Odrick has now made a name for himself.
"I enjoy it so they aren't chopping up my last name. People can't spell it right," Pinnix-Odrick joked. "Keep it simple. I am glad they came up with that."
Despite a slow start to his collegiate career due to injury, Pinnix-Odrick has progressed into a force on the field being named the starter at defensive tackle last season. In the first four starts in his return to defensive end this year, the fifth-year senior has already surpassed his season totals in sacks and tackles for loss. Pinnix-Odrick's success on the field mixed with his three-time all-academic distinction has translated to becoming a poised leader for the Scarlet Knights, as his teammates voted him a captain of the squad this season.
"It means a lot to know that many guys trust you with the leadership of their team because it is the player's team. When you have a group of players that attest to your hard work and the values that you bring, it really means a lot to me," said Pinnix-Odrick. "It is an honor to follow the long line of guys who have been captains here, captains that came here before me, the guys I voted for. It is definitely a great honor but it comes with great responsibility."
With that responsibility, Pinnix-Odrick just turned to his hard-working nature into an example to lead his teammates. As a recipient of the 2015 Swarm and Finish Award, which is given for exemplifying the type of effort and intensity in representing Rutgers' mantra to swarm and finish, Pinnix-Odrick now carries that motto into all aspects of his life and his role as captain.
"Swarm and finish. That's all you can do. When you get older and older, move on in levels of football and even life there's not many things that are going to separate you. In high school, yeah you're bigger, you're faster than kids, but when you get to college football everyone is big and fast. What is going to separate you?" explained Pinnix-Odrick. "With me, it has to be hard work. I try to keep that in my mind. If I'm going to be here I'm going to do it with a purpose and try to bring as many people with me as possible."
Instilling this attitude in leadership of his teammates, Pinnix-Odrick has also become a spokesman outside of the lines, being selected alongside Darius Hamilton and Andre Patton as Rutgers' representatives for the 2016 Big Ten Football Media Day. The personable, lively Pinnix-Odrick knows that the key is to remember that actions will always speak louder than words.
"In football, I can tell you all I want in interviews, but if you turn on that film from Saturday that is what's going to be my resume," said Pinnix-Odrick. "I can say whatever I want - that I'm working hard, I'm doing this, I'm getting better at that - but if you're watching that film you should be able to make the assessment yourself."
Pinnix-Odrick can certainly be assessed as a vital component for the Rutgers defense, a role he takes modestly. When asked about his success, the captain attributes it to the brothers on his side in battle.
"I think the trust in my teammates. If we can be down 21 and not be stressing, that says a lot. One that we need to start faster, but two that guys really believe in what we are doing and believe that we are going to get the job done up front. It is my last year. The game is slower to me. I am playing defensive end. With guys like Quanzell, Darius, Sebastian, those guys on the line with me, there's really not a lot to worry about with those guys there."
Strong personality, modest, hardworking and team player are just a few descriptions Pinnix-Odrick will always have in front of the remembrance of his legacy at Rutgers. A mark that he hopes always shows his loyalty to his teammates and University.
"I want people to say I was a good character guy. I think that is one of the best compliments that you can get - that I wasn't wishy-washy, that I was honest, that I was a truthful guy and that people respected me," said Pinnix-Odrick. "After I leave this thing I want people to say that I did it at a high level and that I gave what I could to it."
While he once was just a kid at recess wanting to be a part of the game, it is clear that Pinnix-Odrick can graduate knowing that helped shape the game at Rutgers.
Marcus Parker: Faith and Family
By Anthony Hernandez
As the sun set, Marcus Parker's day was just beginning. For more than a year and a half, the Monroe College (New York) graduate spent his evenings working nights, his weekends working security, and his days conditioning for a spot on the Rutgers football roster.
That roster spot was anything but promised, yet Parker carried on the only way he knew how, by holding on to faith and family.
"That was probably one of the most miserable times of my life. Just being miserable watching other guys get offers and things like that," said Parker. "Being raised in a Christian home with my father, he always told me not to be anxious with those things. Just pray, work, don't be too envious of people. We all go through the same process and we see guys get those letters, get those offers, it can get really discouraging."
From January 2014 to August 2015, Parker maintained his working regimen to support himself and achieve his goal. He worked nights at Home Depot, worked out to stay in shape, and worked weekends doing security at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
After graduating from Monroe College, where he played for two seasons in 2012 and 2013, with an associate's degree in business administration, Parker's anticipated enrollment at Rutgers in 2014 hit a wall. Academic requirements delayed his joining the program, as did the program's coaching transition following the 2015 season.
But that changed after head coach Chris Ash was hired. Parker kept working toward joining the program, and eventually found his way into a Rutgers uniform during the summer of 2016.
"You really just have to sit back and pray and say 'I'm going to be alright,'" Parker said. "If this wasn't meant for me, I wouldn't be here right now. But I'm here, things are moving, so it's definitely a blessing."
Parker's passion for football began at an early age playing pickup with his four brothers and friends. Organized football didn't come for Parker until eighth grade, and the desire to play at a high level until after that. Or so he thought.
"It was my first year ever playing, and there was a guy ahead of me who had the experience, played pop warner and pee wee and all that, and I just always knew I had to go hard every time I had the ball. Around that time, in eighth grade or ninth grade, I remember saying to one of my friends 'I really want to play in college at Division I,'" Parker recalled. "I actually went back and looked at an elementary school yearbook and I didn't even realize that I wrote down that I wanted to be a professional football player. I always loved watching it, just never had a chance to play it. Once I had a chance to play it, I went and tried to take off as far as I could with it."
Parker's first stop after high school was Monroe College. The defensive back played two seasons for the Mustangs and looked to develop his game in hopes that he could reach the Division I level.
"It was just God's plan for me to go that JUCO route to see how the speed of the game begins to increase, knowing that Division I and bigtime football would be much faster," Parker said. "I definitely developed my game, helped with my eyes and my feet and my strength, and I met a lot of guys along the way, even guys that are playing in some big programs now."
His ultimate goal was always to be a Scarlet Knight. As a New Jersey native, Parker admired the bond shared by those within the Rutgers program, values that reflected the close relationship he had with his own family.
As defensive backs coach Bill Busch recalled, players were rapidly drawn to Parker's selfless, positive demeanor in a short period of time.
"The kid is just phenomenal," Busch said. "It's really just disappointing that we didn't get a chance to be around him more, because there's no one that works harder and loves football more, is a better teammate, all the stuff that goes along with it. He went through a lot of work to get himself academically eligible to be able to do this. He has within a matter of months earned the highest respect by all of his teammates, and that usually never happens in that amount of time. But he's done that, and I just absolutely love him."
There were plenty of times doubts crept into Parker's mind about whether he'd ever make it to Rutgers. Even when he arrived over the summer, Parker still wasn't sure he'd make the team or survive the grueling transition to the offseason workouts.
Now Parker is looking forward to bigger goals. Parker intends to major in labor studies with a concentration in law and plans to get his master's degree to open even more doors. Being a part of the program has benefitted him with numerous networking connections that will help him on the job hunt after college.
When he takes the field for the last time, Parker knows he'll get choked up. Those tears won't be for sadness, though, they'll be for gratitude - gratitude for the family at home and "On the Banks" that got him there.
"Football definitely shapes a lot about work ethic and lets you know how far you could go," Parker said. "If you're tanking and you cash in and say 'I don't want to do it,' that's pretty much how you might decide to do things for the rest of your life. It's hard out in the world. But if you stay in, you stay the course and you buy in, you feel as though you can handle anything and everything that people and life throws at you."
Isaiah Johnson: California to New Jersey
By Jimmy Gill
Most of the players on the Rutgers football roster are from New Jersey, the surrounding states and Florida, but senior Isaiah Johnson is an outlier in the group hailing from Oakland, Calif. However, the linebacker quickly adapted to life in New Jersey and has taken full advantage of his Rutgers experience.
Influenced by his father, Johnson, who also played basketball, ran track and participated in rugby growing up, was introduced to football at the age of eight and has been hooked ever since. His competitive spirit is one of the driving factors on and off the field.
"I just naturally fell in love with it," Johnson said. "The emotions, the brotherhood, and it always felt good to win. I'm very competitive so I love that feeling. I love winning with my teammates more than anything."
All of those descriptions have been key for the Scarlet Knights to come together as a team.
"We need each other to finish the workouts, honestly," Johnson said of the offseason conditioning program. "I don't think there's anybody on this team that can finish one of those workouts on their own, especially the summer ones. The motivation, the competition, we help lift each other up."
Lifting each other up has also been part of Johnson's life, as he mentions his mother and father as great role models, in addition to his uncle and grandmother. All have played a role in his life.
Johnson played all over the field as a youth, but honed in as a running back early on in high school before learning linebacker as senior for Bishop O'Dowd. Helping with that transition was the head coach of the team, Hardy Nickerson, who had a 16-year NFL career that featured five Pro Bowl selections and over 1,500 tackles.
"(Coach Nickerson) played in the NFL and taught me how to be a linebacker," Johnson said.
That season, Johnson collected 87 tackles and rushed for 510 yards, but he knew he wanted to keep playing. Heading to City College of San Francisco ended up being the next step, as he furthered his development.
"Out of high school I didn't have any Division I offers, but I knew that I could play at this level," he said. "I looked up to some of the players that graduated before me and they were kind of on the same boat. They went on to junior college as well. I considered walking on to some schools but I felt like junior college was the best decision for me."
It proved to be a smart decision after Johnson was named First Team Region I All-California Community College and First Team All-Bay 6 Conference at linebacker. He led the team with 72 tackles in 2014, also totaling 10.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, five pass break-ups and a fumble recovery over 13 games to help CCSF to an 11-2 record and an appearance in the California junior college state title game.
Johnson's performance as a middle linebacker and on special teams attracted Division I coaches, with Rutgers coming into the picture despite having never visited the East Coast before.
"Oakland life in very fast-paced," Johnson said. "You have everything you can imagine. I really enjoyed my visit to Rutgers. But going away for college has been a learning experience and a lot of fun. The people and education are great."
Johnson has been a contributor at middle linebacker and on special teams for the Scarlet Knights the last two seasons. In the classroom, he is a labor studies major.
"They have a great academic support staff here," Johnson said. "All the tutors have done a phenomenal job. The labor studies program has really prepared me for the professional world. I've learned a lot about the legal system and negotiations. I've learned things that aren't only beneficial in the professional world, but beneficial to me personally."
In addition, Johnson is a member of Athletes in Action, a group who has the mission "to help sports-minded people think and live biblically at the intersection of sport and Christianity."
"I'm a Christian so I'm really big on my faith and try to study the Bible as much as I can," he said.
The brotherhood of the team has also pushed Johnson forward, as Rutgers follows the "10 Strong" motto to come together. That is an important part of achieving success.
"We want to play at our full potential and win games as a team," Johnson said. "We want to play our best and see what happens from there."
