Note: The following appears in the Louisville football gameday program.
Before the 2024 season, it seemed improbable that we would ever see Walker Parks run down the Hill again. The graduate offensive lineman had suffered multiple injuries during his tenure, including one to his ankle that could have ended his football career.
His first setback came against NC State in 2022, but he played most of the season with a lot of pain in his ankle. He could not do any offseason work before the 2023 season due to surgery to repair three lateral ligaments.
Parks returned for game action, but he suffered a season-ending injury against Charleston Southern in September. An MRI revealed significant damage that could sideline him for good. He was offered two surgery options, one that would prevent him from playing again, and the other that gave him a 50-percent chance of suiting up in 2024.
For Parks, the choice was easy.
“The physical pain does not hurt as bad as the mental pain of standing on the sidelines, knowing you’re supposed to be out there. I’m thankful to be able to take the field with all my buddies.”
Parks’ football journey began at a young age, as he played tackle football when he was five. His father played on the offensive line for Kentucky, which inspired Walker’s interest in pursuing a football career.
“I played through middle and high school, and I always wanted to play college football. I got my first offer from Eastern Kentucky around eighth grade, and the recruiting process picked up from there.”
Parks became Clemson’s first signee from the state of Kentucky since 2002. He described how Death Valley was such an attractive destination for himself and fellow recruits.
“One of my good friend’s dad played soccer here, and we would order a bunch of food and watch all the games together. I watched them run down the Hill and saw that it was a cool atmosphere, and I had to see it for myself.
“I got the offer right after a great summer camp here, and I took a few more visits, but I knew the whole time that this was where I wanted to be.”
Since his arrival on campus in 2020, Parks has made 35 starts and continues to give everything he has to the team, despite it not always being easy.
“There are many mornings when it’s not very easy to walk around, when my ankle or knee is bothering me, but my motivation to get out there is as high as it’s ever been. I have arthritis in my ankle, so getting up and moving around isn’t as easy as it used to be. It feels fine during practice, but it can really affect my time off the field.”
While multiple serious injuries during a career could be seen as a setback, Walker has gathered a positive outlook and considers himself incredibly lucky to be in his position.
“I’ve realized that I took the day-to-day to play here for granted, and I wasn’t always as grateful as I should have been. Then my injury happened, and there was a chance that football wouldn’t be a part of my life, and that really changed my perspective on everything. This year, I’ve grown to love the process and getting better every day.”
Parks is in his fifth year with the Tigers and has options at the conclusion of the 2024 season. However, he is choosing to focus on what is in the immediate future.
“I have put some thought into the next steps, but I’m mainly focused on tomorrow. I was focused on today, but now I’m focused on having the best practice I can tomorrow and being the best version of myself for this team.”
Walker’s favorite memory of his Clemson tenure came at the end of the 2021 season, when the Tigers defeated Iowa State in the Cheez-It Bowl.
“We were such a young team that year and we battled a ton of adversity. We had a ton of injuries and had to come together as a group. It was a great feeling to finish that season on such a high note.”
When asked what he would want all Clemson fans to know about him, he expressed his gratitude for the support he has received over the years.
“I took a huge risk when I left Kentucky, because my whole family is there, and that’s all I’ve ever known. But coming here, the people could not have been more welcoming. After the injury, people would come up to me in public and ask how I was doing, how the rehab was going and that they were praying for me. I could not be more grateful for the people of Clemson and all of the fans.”
