Projected 1st-Round WR DeVante Parker Talks Draft and How to Care for Your Body

As the 2015 NFL draft draws near, Louisville's DeVante Parker remains firmly in the conversation as the top wide receiver prospect available in the class. 

He has stiff competition, though, from Alabama's Amari Cooper and West Virginia's Kevin White. 

Cooper is still considered the most likely to come off the board first Thursday evening. The Alabama product could be selected as high as third overall by the Jackson Jaguars. 

White, meanwhile, owns the best combination of size and speed at 6'3" and 215 pounds with 4.35-second 40-yard-dash speed. The former JUCO transfer battled slight foot injuries as a junior in Morgantown, West Virginia, but he exploded as a senior with 1,447 receiving yards.  

Despite the natural rivalry among these three competitors to become the first wide receiver chosen, Parker is taking it all in stride. 

“I can do anything, and I feel I'll go in the top-15 range," Parker said.

"[Expectations] are same as them, but you never know with the draft. Anything can happen."

In fact, Parker is allowing himself to be pampered by Gillette, Old Spice and Pantene during his trip to Chicago for the draft. 

The three companies teamed up for the first time to provide a unique experience for six first-round prospects and their families.

As part of a press release, Gillette and Pantene identified the participants and why it's important for the companies to provide theses services to the aspiring professionals: 

"

The Gillette Lounge and Pantene Salon will serve NFL prospects and their families on Wednesday, April 29, and Thursday, April 30. Together, they will receive makeovers, hairstyles and clean shaves so they look their best for the biggest moment of their lives. NFL prospects including Landon Collins (defensive back, University of Alabama), DeVante Parker (wide receiver, University of Louisville), Shane Ray (defensive end, University of Missouri), Danny Shelton (defensive tackle, University of Washington) and Trae Waynes (cornerback, Michigan State University) are amongst the players planning to spend quality time at the Spa with their family members including the moms, dads, brothers, sisters, and grandparents that play such an important role in their young lives.

"

It's a strange thought to imagine the 6'3", 209-pound wide receiver being completely pampered in preparation for the first round of the draft. 

For Parker, it's merely a step in the right direction after a difficult senior campaign. 

The Louisville product was highly touted prior to the start of the 2014 season. Parker was considered the top wide receiver prospect for the 2015 draft, but he suffered a broken foot during an Aug. 22 practice that forced him out of the lineup for the initial seven games of the season. 

It took time for Parker's foot to properly heal, because he didn't truly understand what it took to rehab the injury properly. 

“I hurt [the foot] in training camp," Parker said. "I just didn't know how to work hard to get back. My foot is fine now. It's 100 percent from what it was before, but I feel a lot better today because it's finally healed up."

Despite not feeling 100 percent during the second half of the season, Louisville's top target absolutely demolished the competition after he returned to the lineup. 

Parker averaged an impressive 142.5 yards per game and finished the year with 885 receiving yards despite missing the first month-and-a-half of the season. In fact, Parker's average of 142.5 receiving yards per game in 2014 was higher than both Cooper's and White's. 

The long and angular receiver is a dynamic downfield threat who invokes comparisons to the Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green. Parker's overall ball skills and ability to make the highlight-reel catch separate him from the rest of the draft class. But he's not a completely polished product. 

“I'm very good at high-pointing the football," Parker said. "That's were I excel. But I do want to continue working on coming out of my breaks."

Quite simply, Parker creates mismatches and consistently takes the top off defenses, as LifesYourCup's Fusue Vue noted: 

Any time a prospect with the ability to stretch the field vertically is in the lineup, a defense must account for his presence. 

Due to Parker's potential to develop into a legitimate game-breaker, interest around the league has continued to escalate as the draft draws closer. 

Benjamin Allbright of 94.1 FM Denver invoked an impressive comparison: 

In the end, the top of this wide receiver class will be determined by a team's preference. 

Cooper is by far the most polished and nuanced route-runner. White is the biggest and most physical of the three. And Parker proved to be the most dynamic in a short time. 

As a result, there won't be a consensus on which should come off the board first. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport provided an example: 

In the end, the most important aspect of being a professional athlete for Parker extends beyond draft slotting or particular team fits. Parker's biggest concern moving forward is remaining healthy enough to help whichever team eventually selects him. 

"You always want to stay healthy," Parker said. "Whether it's getting work done on your hands or feet, it's important to remain healthy so you can be on the field for the next game."

A balanced diet, proper conditioning, rest and even a little pampering became important for the Louisville native during the predraft process.

“It has after missing the last seven games and then only playing the last six," Parker said. "It became about eating right and taking it day by day as I went through the process. They're evaluating everything you're doing. It's all about remaining healthy."

A healthy Parker is an elite prospect in this year's draft class and every bit as worthy of being a top-10 selection as Cooper and White.

Whether or not the former Louisville wide receiver is actually selected in the range, he'll look good at the draft, and he's ready to provide a new dynamic to a team's roster.

All quotes obtained firsthand by Brent Sobleski, who covers the NFL draft for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @brentsobleski.