Jarez Parks receives his honorary Army All-American Bowl jersey (Photo: Army All-American Bowl)
Even when he is tired of everything that goes along with recruiting — the phone calls, the texts, the Twitter direct messages — Jarez Parks remembers one key point: “A lot of guys would kill to be in the position I am right now.”
Parks, ranked as the nation’s No. 4 weak-side defensive end, has 32 reported offers and currently plays for undefeated Sebastian River High (Sebastian, Fla.).
“The only part of this that I’m still enjoying is realizing how blessed I am,” he told Gannett partner TCPalm.com. “That’s the only part that keeps me in a good attitude. I don’t want to be negative.”
Counting his blessings extends to his selection to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Parks received his honorary jersey Thursday when the Selection Tour presented by American Family Insurance came to his school.
He is the school’s first Army All-American. The Army Bowl is Jan. 7 in San Antonio.
Jarez Parks presents his Dream Champion award to his family (Photo: Army All-American Bowl)
Parks also relies on a strong family. He received some attention in recruiting circles last spring when word surfaced that his mother had provided a list of questions she wanted answered by the college coaches recruiting her son. She had his high school coach review them and then send them to the schools. Among them: graduation rate, length of contracts for the head coach and assistant coaches, how faculty deals with student-athletes missing classes, insurance coverage.
“I told her some of it they’re not going to know, but she’s going to be one of the major players in the decision,” coacj Kevin Pettis said. “I think it’s awesome, but I’m telling you, I’ve never had this happen.”
Parks is also a standout track athlete, winning the Florida 3A state title in discus.