Patriots

Watch Rob Gronkowski tell this walk-on college football player he’s on scholarship

"My boy wants to tell you something."

Kolin Hill and Mychealon Thomas celebrate with Justus Parker (center) after a game last month against the Texas Longhorns in Austin. Tim Warner / Getty Images

By Nik DeCosta-Klipa

Texas Tech sophomore Justus Parker has put in a pretty impressive performance this season, especially for a walk-on. The Red Raiders cornerback has recorded 42 total tackles, returned a fumble for a touchdown, and leads his team with four interceptions.

So the news Parker received Monday was perhaps less surprising than how it was delivered.

During a team meeting, Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury played a video message from Patriots receiver Danny Amendola, a Texas Tech alumnus. Speaking from the Patriots plane, Amendola directly addressed Parker, telling the college student that he admired his work.

“My boy wants to tell you something,” Amendola added, as he turned the camera to bring the face of Rob Gronkowski into frame.

“What’s up, man — congratulations, you’re on scholarship,” Gronkowski excitedly said into the camera.

The rest of the message was drowned out in celebration.

Parker tweeted afterward that it was an “unbelievable moment.”

Texas Tech plays their final game of the season Saturday in the Birmingham Bowl against South Florida.