UH defensive lineman Derek Parish was selected 240th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Parish will move to fullback in Jacksonville.
The 6-foot-2-inch, 245-pound Pearland native appeared in 48 games over five seasons at defensive end with Houston, including starting all 14 games in the Cougar’s conference runner-up season as a junior in 2021. In that season, Parish earned Second Team All-American Athletic Conference honors.
In 2022, Parish recorded five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in just four games before suffering a season-ending bicep tear. Against Texas Tech in week two, Parish logged 4.