Kerry Neal: Top 2027 Notre Dame Target Brayden Parks One Of The Best

Kerry Neal has worked with plenty of high-level defensive linemen over the years at WIN Performance in Illinois.

Brayden Parks‍ is one who has been different from the start.

Neal, a former Notre Dame standout, has trained Parks since eighth grade and continues to work with the 2027 defensive tackle on a weekly basis. 

The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder from Chicago’s Brother Rice High School has developed into one of the most discussed defensive prospects in Illinois, Notre Dame has remained aggressive in his recruitment while Neal has remained a consistent presence in Parks’ development. 

“I've been training Brayden Parks since eighth grade,” Neal said. “I train Brayden probably once or twice a week. That kid is phenomenal.

“He's probably the most polished D lineman in the state, no question about that. And he's still got another level. His ceiling is so high. He's big, he's young, he's strong, he's athletic now. We've kind of dialed in on what we’ve got to do to take it to the next level. So I'm super excited about him.”

Parks has drawn national attention early in his recruitment, holding offers from a long list of Power Four programs like Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, LSU, Florida, Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon and Illinois among several others. 

Notre Dame has positioned itself as a key player in his process and continues to prioritize the in-state defensive lineman.

Neal believes Parks’ development has accelerated as his physical tools have caught up with his technical understanding of the position and physical maturity.

“He was just a young, hungry kid,” Neal said of Parks when they first began working together. “He’s always been a big boy. Now he's finally getting his grown man strength. The kid is strong. He's not just a big boy. The kid is really, really strong. He's explosive.

“He understands the details. He understands hand usage. He understands how to flip his hips. He understands how to get off the ball. We're working on next-level moves. We're working on hump moves. We're working on counters, and he'll do it in the game. He'll send me a video of it. So he's really dialed in.”

That polish separates Parks from many players his age, according to Neal.

Interior defensive line is one of the most difficult positions for young prospects to crack early at the college level, but Neal sees traits that could translate.

“When you're evaluating a defensive lineman, you’ve got to ask yourself, ‘Can he get after the quarterback?” Neal said. “‘Can he speed him up? Can he get to the quarterback?’

“If you can do that as a freshman, they can find a way to get you on the field. There is an art to pass rushing. It’s a very skilled position. That’s the thing that wins a lot of ball games.”

For Parks, the ability to rush from the interior could ultimately define his ceiling.

“If you’re a big guy who can rush from an interior position, you can make yourself a lot of NIL money these days.”

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