STILLWATER — When his three sons were young, Craig Robertson had an annual tradition of gathering with his boys to watch “Rudy,” the movie that tells the story of Notre Dame’s legendary walk-on football player, Rudy Ruettiger.
“Growing up, that was the movie we’d put on every Christmas,” said Chase Robertson, the oldest of Craig’s sons.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOf course, none of the Robertson boys ever thought they’d get to live through their own Rudy-type story.
Yet here they are, preparing to watch the youngest of the bunch, Parker Robertson, play his last college football game.
When Oklahoma State hosts Iowa State at 11 a.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium, Parker will take the field one last time as a Cowboy, concluding a journey that began with an unexpected offer to walk on and turned into not only a scholarship spot, but a starting job.
In that way, Parker has surpassed Rudy accomplished on the field. Rudy had only a brief brush with on-field glory, but Parker has been appearing in games over the last four seasons.
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Oklahoma State safety Parker Robertson poses for a photograph during the Oklahoma State Cowboys football media days in Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Saturday, Aug., 2, 2025.Parker is a bit bigger than Rudy's “5-foot-nothing, 100-and-nothing,” and he’s not playing at Notre Dame in its heyday. But Parker has worked his way to becoming a contributor on special teams over multiple seasons, a regular at safety the last two and starting nearly every game this season.
And now as a senior, he’s not only the Cowboys’ leading tackler with 70 stops and tied for the team lead in interceptions with two, he’s a strategic and emotional leader.
He’s been named a captain at the end of the last two seasons, and could earn it for a third time this year.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“What a guy, right? He’ll be CEO of something one day,” OSU interim coach Doug Meacham said. “He's probably one of the most productive, best guys we got over there. It's hard to do that these days, to walk on and be not just on the team, but be starting and leading the charge.
“It's fun to watch a great kid have success like that. Did it the hard way.”
When Parker finished high school, he wasn’t sure he wanted to pursue college ball. He had watched Chase play for a couple years at Arkansas Tech, but give it up after injuries mounted and his desire faded.
Their middle brother, Cooper, walked away from athletics after high school.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementParker, with his father and mother, Shawna, began to weigh his options. He considered multiple schools that would provide the academic pursuits he sought — Oklahoma State among them.
Chase had finished out college at OSU after quitting football at Arkansas Tech, so Parker had some familiarity with Stillwater and the campus.
Then OSU offered a walk-on opportunity and Parker felt he needed to see where it might take him.
“He has passed all expectations for me, for his mother and I think for himself, too,” Craig said. “When someone gives their heart and soul to an organization, it’s big. It means a lot. And he’s done that.”
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Oct 4, 2025; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma State safety Parker Robertson (8) intercepts a pass intended for Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Gil Richardson (5) during the second quarter at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn ImagesChase, who is seven years older than Parker and takes his role as the big brother to heart, fully began to realize what his little brother was accomplishing toward the end of the 2023 season.
Sitting in the stands at AT&T Stadium, Chase watched Parker walk to the middle of the field for the pregame coin toss at the Big 12 Championship Game against Texas. He had been elected as a captain for the season, as voted on by his teammates.
“He was still a walk-on, and I know he was a special teams guy,” Chase said. “But being called a captain against a team like Texas in the Big 12 championship, and he’s not even a scholarship player?
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“To see that — that was big.”
Parker has proven himself over and over, and did it with new coaches this year. Yet he has always maintained his naturally humble and unassuming personality.
“I’m just happy to be here,” he said. “I’ve dreamed of it since I was a 4-year-old kid. I’m just gonna keep playing, and even if I’m frustrated, just look on the highs and not the lows.
“I had to work and just keep working. I’ve never changed that walk-on mindset of just keep working and take one step at a time. If it’s bad, it’s bad, if it’s good, it’s good. Forget about it and stay in the present.”
It seems to be a consensus that Craig will be the most emotional family member during Saturday’s pregame recognition of seniors.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I been cryin’ for two weeks,” Craig said.
But the whole family is excited to relish the moment, even though a special chapter of Parker’s life is coming to an end.
“End of an era,” Chase said. “It’s gonna be a surreal moment and I’m sure there’s gonna be a lot of emotions flying from everyone.
“It’s coming full-circle. Parker was the little guy who went in there and wasn’t afraid, had the heart of a lion and was fearless. For him to accomplish what he did at a Division I university, it’s special. And it’s coming to an end, but that’s OK, because everything good does.”
Scott Wright covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Scott? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X at @ScottWrightOK. Sign up for the Oklahoma State Cowboys newsletter to access more OSU coverage. Support Scott’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.
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KICKOFF: 11 a.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater (ESPNU)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football's Parker Robertson followed his 'Rudy' path
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