Bowling Green State University Athletics
Parks Relishes Role of Bruiser
October 18, 2006 | Football
Oct. 18, 2006
By MAUREEN FULTON, Blade Sports Writer -
BOWLING GREEN - The challenge awaited Devon Parks all offseason. He had seen "the list," as he called it, a strikingly short notation of how many sacks Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas had allowed and to whom.
The last two years Thomas, a possible top 10 NFL draft pick next year, had given up just three sacks. In Bowling Green State University's season opener, it took a quarter and a half for Parks, the Falcons' senior defensive end, to make sure his name would be included on "the list" from then on.
Midway through the second quarter against the Badgers, Parks cut around Thomas and brought down quarterback John Stocco for an 11-yard loss. Thomas, who Parks faced the entire game, was later called for holding Parks.
"I was glad I got to add my name to that; it's pretty exclusive," Parks said.
A four-year starter for the Falcons, Parks loves nothing more than big games. As he nears the end of his collegiate career, none looms larger than BGSU's road trip to Central Michigan tomorrow. The Chippewas lead the Mid-American Conference West with a 4-0 record, and the Falcons (4-3, 3-1 MAC) need to win to stay in the chase for the MAC East title.
As a leader on BGSU's improved defense, Parks will be a key in the attempt to torment CMU quarterback Dan LeFevour.
"I think he rises to the competition," BGSU coach Gregg Brandon said. "That's what I've always liked about him. He just rises to that level."
Parks leads the team and is second in the MAC with five sacks. Another one came two weeks ago when the Falcons traveled to Ohio State. On the Buckeyes' drive after BGSU scored its only touchdown in the third quarter, Parks found quarterback Troy Smith on second-and-10 and brought him down for a two-yard loss.
"I've always looked forward to games like that in a big venue," Parks said. "Central Michigan is going to be on ESPNU, so that'll be another big-time game. I think the entire defense is really looking forward to it."
Parks, 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds, has matched his sack total from his freshman year. He has 18 career sacks. Brandon has seen improvement in Parks each year, and he thinks it's because of his dedication to "the little things."
"He's a very conscientious, disciplined kid as far as studying the opponent," Brandon said. "He puts in the time studying offenses and how they're going to block him. He's really worked on his pass-rush technique. He's going to do the little things to make himself a better player."
To Parks, the extra work is just what has to be done to be among the elite. It's what helps him come up big in big games. Last week against Eastern Michigan, it seemed Parks was being held constantly, and he still pulled down EMU quarterback Tyler Jones twice for sacks.
"You look at big-time players across the nation, those are the guys who come in extra to study film, practice techniques, those types of things," Parks said. "It's my last year, I only have five more games left, so I have to take advantage of it.
"I try and tell myself and the other players that every game is a championship game and you have to look at it that way."
