What Zach Arnett said about Mississippi State football QB Chris Parson at SEC Media Days

Mississippi Clarion Ledger
NASHVILLE — Shortly after Mike Leach’s death in December, Mississippi State football’s Zach Arnett was tasked with a number of duties. As he was promoted from defensive coordinator to replace Leach as coach, a job he’s never held at any level, one of the top priorities centered around keeping a signing class together.
Arnett accomplished the goal and landed a top 30 class. Quarterback Chris Parson was a big reason why.
Parson was the voice of Mississippi State’s 2023 recruiting class. He encouraged his future teammates to stay true to their commitment to Leach even in the aftermath of his death. It was a promising sign for a young player yet to arrive on campus. Those traits have followed him from Nashville to Starkville since his enrollment in January.
“Chris has done a great job,” Arnett said Tuesday at SEC Media Days. “He showed up to work from the very first day. … He’s a football guy. He’s got one of them personalities that guys like him. It’s not all talk. He’s willing to back it up and work as hard as anyone. That’s what you want from your quarterback.”
Parson was limited in spring ball due to an injury suffered toward the end of his career at Ravenwood High School. However, his intangibles have caught the attention of veterans around him.
Parson is in a quarterback room filled with SEC experience. Leading the group is Will Rogers – an in-state product entering his fourth season as a starter. Backing him up is Vanderbilt transfer Mike Wright who spent three seasons with the Commodores.
“He’s a humble guy,” Arnett said. “He knows he’s got an opportunity to come in here and go into a quarterback room where he can talk to some guys who have played a lot of games in this league and faced a lot of really good defenses. If you’re smart, sometimes you ask questions and you shut up and listen.”
Parson was a four-star prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He committed in August as Leach and his staff huddled around a tablet on a practice field to watch his announcement.
Despite Mississippi State transitioning away from the Air Raid to a more balanced attack under offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay, Parson held his commitment. His leadership in ensuring his classmates followed didn’t go unnoticed by Bulldogs on both sides of the ball.
“He’s come along great,” defensive lineman Jaden Crumedy said. “I never knew about him until he got (to MSU). Seeing him the way he carries himself and things like that – I can tell that he will be a great leader.”