When Walker Parks stepped foot on the field Thursday as the Clemson football team opened fall camp, it marked a significant milestone for the fifth-year senior offensive lineman.

For Parks, it has been a very long road back from multiple injuries, and the 6-foot-5, 304-pounder was ecstatic to be out there practicing with the Tigers after a lot of rehabilitation.

In fact, he says being on the field with his teammates again, playing the sport he loves, makes him “the happiest I’ve been in a while.”

“It was a lot of fun,” Parks said Thursday following Clemson’s first practice of fall camp. “It’s always hard getting back into camp the first day, getting back into shape, because everybody knows that there’s a difference between being in shape and being in football shape. Getting the rust off, getting back out on the field, that’s something that I didn’t know was going to happen again. So, extremely thankful to make a recovery and just be out there with the boys again playing football.”

Thursday marked the first full-contact practice for Parks since last September. He suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Clemson’s second game of the 2023 season against Charleston Southern on Sept. 9.

Since then, it’s certainly been a long 11 months back to the field for Parks, but he thinks he’s now better off because of the difficult recovery.

“It’s a constant reminder that it can end any day for any player,” Parks said, reflecting on his latest injury last season. “(In the season opener vs.) Duke, obviously didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but I felt incredible on that field… I’m flying around, everything feels great. I’m healthy, I’m ready to go, and in the blink of an eye, I’m back on the surgery table.

“So, the last 11 months were very hard, but they were very beneficial for me and I feel like very necessary for me to develop as a man and as a player. I think that’s probably one of the best things that could have happened to me, honestly.”

A former four-star prospect from Kentucky, Parks was an ESPN Freshman All-American as a reserve in 2020 who earned the starting right tackle role entering his sophomore year in 2021 and then transitioned to guard during fall camp in 2022, when he would go on to earn fourth-team All-ACC honors by Phil Steele.

In 2022, Parks started all 13 games that he played in, then missed the following spring while recovering from a torn ankle ligament injury that he played through during the 2022 season but eventually required surgery.

After his latest injury in 2023, Parks admitted that he questioned whether he would play football again, and understandably so. But ultimately, he knew there was zero chance he was going to let his Clemson career conclude with a season-ending injury that cut his senior campaign as short as it did.

“It’s no secret. You always have a little bit of doubt,” Parks said. “The amount of work that we put in and not playing with my brothers and finishing that and missing my senior season and everything like that… There’s no way that was it… There’s no way I end it like that.

“So, I made a decision, I was like, no matter how bad it hurts, I’ve got all the people I need, I’ve got all the equipment I need. I was like, I’m definitely making a comeback somehow, and fortunately I have… I feel great. Back out on the field (Thursday), I was full-go, not modified at all. I feel amazing. I feel great, so all glory to God for that. There was absolutely doubt, but I’ve never been in better spirits now.”

Parks has benefited from a big support system during trying times, with plenty of people to lean on and help him as he’s worked his way back.

“There’s no better place than Clemson, for a place like this,” he said. “Our training staff, they’ve done so much for me. They rehabilitated me through two surgeries back-to-back. I’m in there every single day, giving me treatment, helping me through whatever.

“So, it took a lot of people, and I’m very thankful for those people. I definitely could not have done it without them.”

Parks enters the 2024 season having played 2,107 career snaps over 39 games (28 starts). He was limited to 123 offensive snaps over two games (both starts) last season.

After his battles with injuries and all the adversity he’s been through over the past couple years, you can bet Parks won’t take a single snap for granted in his return to action during the upcoming season.

“Honestly, I just look at this as an opportunity,” Parks said. “It’s no longer like, ‘Oh, my senior season, we’re gonna ride this out, this is the final go.’ It’s just an opportunity… I wake up every morning and I stand up, come in this building, and I’m just like, ‘Thank you, God.’ I’m just so happy to be here, I’m so happy to be back a part of this.

“I’ve always been a part of this program, even when hurt. You’re not separated from it. But actually being back into it, being out there with the offensive line, with the quarterback, with the running back, going against the defense — that is so much different. It’s not a bonus season, it’s just a great opportunity, and I thank God for being able to be back and be a Tiger.”

A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available.  Get yours while supplies last!  Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!