Logan Parr interview at ACC Football Kickoff

[PonyPride]

Logan, when people talk about the move up and any type of going from D-II to D-I or group of 5 to Power 4, people talk about the trenches being the difference and normally expecting that to be the weak point that lags behind. Instead it turned out to be the strength of the team, ushering in a 1,000-yard rusher, being the third least sacked team in the conference, and you personally finishing as an All-ACC guy. What does that say about who you are as a player and the offensive line as a whole?

LOGAN PARR: I think we had a chip on our shoulder going into it. A lot of us last year were bounce-back guys coming from Power 4 teams transferring into the AAC and then eventually the ACC, so getting that opportunity to go in and show we can do it on an elite level together and kind of push the guys behind us is something I was very thankful for.

I want to know what the current state of the offensive line room is heading into 2025, part 1. Then how has your relationship grown with Coach Lashlee since when you got here?

LOGAN PARR: We got a couple transfers along with a lot of guys who have played a bunch of football. We do a good job outside of football building that culture, hanging out, all that kind of stuff that I think we're going to have a great unit moving forward.

Coach Lashlee, I'm just thankful that he gave me the opportunity to be at SMU. I kind of got ran out of my last school, and coming here and being the player that I am now here at Media Day is just unfathomable. So I'm really thankful for that.

You spoke about your appreciation for Coach Lashlee giving you new life in college football. Just to reflect on that a little bit deeper, what you learned from the adversity that you had and why SMU truly was the reimagining and the evolution of you as a player?

LOGAN PARR: I was a highly recruited kid out of high school, got a lot of offers, and eventually went to Texas. I didn't get the opportunity to show what I thought I had at that level as a player.

I'm just so thankful that this staff gave me the opportunity to come in, play in my fourth year, but come in, put some film together, and put some good film out there.

I want to know, when you're going against elite ACC defensive line, what is your mindset?

LOGAN PARR: I've been in college a long time, and I've gone against a lot of guys. This is about to be my sixth year. I've gone against a lot of guys at Texas, a lot of guys at SMU that are in the pros where I got that level in practice where I was going against the best guy in the country.

In the ACC, I'm going against that same kind of talent. I'm just thankful every single day in practice I get that same kind of look.

I know you started your collegiate career in the Big 12, but you also played in the American last year with SMU. Talking to coaches and players, they say the difference between the G-5 and P-4 level is in the trenches. Do you believe that to be true based on your experience?

LOGAN PARR: I think the talent level is at the same point level to level. It's the size. I wasn't going against 6'5", 330 guys when I was in the AAC, and you kind of see that reflected as you go on.

You've just mentioned the number of years you've been in the game and your age. Do they call you Grandpa in the locker room? What's your role?

LOGAN PARR: My nickname is Professor. I've got three degrees. In three years, I got my corporate communication degree at Texas, I got my Masters in business management and my Masters in sports management. I've got a little bit of a degree wall going.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

LOGAN PARR: Still figuring that out. I'm going to be a football player first, and then from there we'll figure it out.

First of all, whose responsibility is it to get Isaiah cowboy boots? Coach is going to take that. Secondly, as a graduate -- obviously congratulations on everything you've done academically.

LOGAN PARR: Appreciate it.

How personal do you as an offensive line take it to protect Kevin each play? I know that sacks are something that offensive linemen hate. Is that something personal that your offensive line worries about to make sure to protect him?

LOGAN PARR: We love Kevin. Kevin is one of my best friends. I would hate to see anything happen to Kevin. Kevin can stand back there for 12 seconds and make eight guys miss if he wants to, but being there and protecting him is something that I take personally.