[

](http://www.embarque.com/)

INDIANAPOLIS – Coming from the wrestling hotbed of Iowa, David Parry was born to be in the trenches.

The streaks of eye black that Parry proudly wears each game on the gridiron resembles the "mean streak" scouts labeled for the 6-2, 300-pound defensive tackle.

"I'd say that's pretty accurate," Parry said of the "mean streak" description.

"My dad and my brother taught me to play this game a certain way growing up. I continue to try to play the game with a hostile attitude. There is a certain level of violence that needs to be used playing this game and that's what I try to do."

Following in his brother's footsteps to the Ivy League (his brother played at Harvard from 2000-2004) was initially an option for Parry.

The scholarship offers for Parry weren't going to draw many TV cameras at a signing day party.

A couple of Division 1-AA schools and the possibility of playing in the Ivy League was the ceiling for Parry coming out of Marion, Iowa, in 2010.

Parry wanted to play at the highest of levels though and, more importantly, he believed in himself.

A preferred walk-on spot was granted at Stanford and the motivation from that point on was obvious.

"It was kind of tough coming out feeling pretty undervalued, but it kind of added to the chip on my shoulder that I play with," Parry said. "My parents supported me and gave me the go to walk-on. I had their support and I was able to earn the scholarship after my first year."

By the start of 2012, Parry was a mainstay on one of the nation's most feared defensive lines and he would blossom into a two-year starter at Stanford.

Parry's initial playing time for the Cardinal came from his ability to neutralize the opponent's running game.

He eventually grew into a more than adequate interior pass rusher (4.5 sacks in 12 games last season), something that caught Chuck Pagano's attention on film.

"We're not going to pigeon hole those guys and say 'Dave Parry's coming in and he's a first and second down run stopping, nose tackle, cause he's not," Pagano said.

"We've got it on tape where he's done it in sub and he's been in on third down. He's got some movement skills and some twitch to beat some guards."

As the NFL personnel has flocked to the Bay Area in recent years, Stanford head coach David Shaw hasn't been surprised to see the interest in his former walk-on.

"He's a 300-pounder that knows how to play in the 3-4 scheme and can help in the nickel," Shaw said at the end of Parry’s final season at Stanford.

"He's a team leader, he's a stand-up guy, he's a physical son-of-a-gun. I'm just excited for him because I think he's got a chance to play beyond this year."