Running down a dream

Niko Parrott is a 20-year-old football player who is following the path of playing junior football before playing at university.

“I completed high school at Churchill High School, and I currently play in the Canadian Junior Football League as I prepare to transition into U Sports football,” he explained. Last season, Niko played running back for the Edmonton Wildcats in the Prairie Football Conference of the Canadian Junior Football League. In 2025, he played seven games and ran the ball 55 times for 360 yards, averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

“Right now, my main focus is football development and preparing for the next level,” he said. “I still take learning seriously, whether it’s through training, studying the game, or personal growth off the field. I plan to study criminology and then law.”

The six-foot, 210-pounder takes his football very seriously.

“I love football because it is the ultimate team game,” he explained. “It’s physical, mental, emotional, and it demands everything from you. I love competing and pushing myself. I have a family legacy that has played the sport so there is a bond that I can relate to with family who played and love the game as I do.”

Asked why he plays the position he does, Niko was enthusiastic about his role.

“I like it because you can impact the game in so many ways – running, catching, blocking, and setting the tone physically,” he said. “It’s a position that requires toughness, vision, and explosiveness. I’ve been fortunate to be around coaches and teammates who push me every day. Playing high school football and now in the CJFL means competing against high-level talent, and being in that environment has helped me grow as both a player and a person.”

Niko grew up in the West End of Winnipeg and now lives in the Maples with his mother, Donna Taylor. “My mom is the heart and soul of everything I do,” he said. “I have seen her thrive, protect, and provide for me and our loved ones while putting herself second. That’s the ultimate sacrifice. That’s real strength. I try to use that strength in all I do in life. My goal is to make my dreams a reality to help and thank her. Thank you, mom.”

Niko’s goal is to play professional football. His next step is playing at the U Sports level, and he expects to soon make a commitment to play for a Canadian university.

He has this advice for young athletes:

“Stay disciplined. Be patient. Take what you believe is yours and never stop believing in yourself. There isn’t just one path to success, if you keep working and stay focused, opportunities will come.”