University of Mary Athletics

An All-American and a three-time All-Conference selection, Nikia Parson was a dominant defensive force on three playoff and two conference championship University of Mary football teams, including the 1999 national semifinalist squad.
 
Parson, who grew up in Gary, IN, and graduated from William Wirt High School, transferred to the University of Mary from Mendocino Community College and quickly stepped into the lineup on the defensive line in 1999. The sophomore posted six sacks and recovered a pair of fumbles to earn All-North Dakota College Athletic Conference second team honors and help lead the Marauders to a record of 11-2 and a North Dakota College Athletic Conference title while advancing to the NAIA semifinals. Parson wreaked havoc in opposing backfields his junior season in 2000, posting 13 sacks, the third-highest single season total in school history. He earned Don Hansen honorable mention All-American honors and Dakota Athletic Conference all-league first team recognition as Mary once again made the national playoffs. Parson closed his career on a high note, earning NAIA first team and Don Hansen honorable mention All-American honors. He was a team captain and a repeat DAC-10 first team selection his senior year in 2001 as Mary finished the regular season undefeated (9-0), won the school’s first DAC-10 title, and advanced to the NAIA playoffs once again. Parson currently ranks sixth all-time at Mary in sacks (20) and seventh in tackles for loss (27).
 
The son of Samuel Custard and Lisa Parson, Nikia graduated from the University of Mary in 2002 with a degree in social and behavioral science and currently is the store manager for Encore Shoe Department in Bismarck, ND. Married to Lacey, the couple lives in Bismarck with their children, Kashmere and Maijor.