NFL Draft 2016: Arizona safety Will Parks goes in 6th round to Broncos
Apr 30, 2016, 2:38 PM | Updated: 2:42 pm
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen (3) gets away from Arizona safety Will Parks during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
After a four-year career of contributions at Arizona, safety Will Parks was picked 219th overall (Round 6, Pick 44) by the reigning champion Denver Broncos in the 2016 NFL Draft.
RD 6 – PK 44 @Broncos: Will Parks(S-Arizona) –https://t.co/CGl0zFLKhK #NFLDRAFT
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 30, 2016
Parks was the first Arizona player selected.
Parks, who played both hybrid safety positions for the Wildcats over his career, is viewed as a safety or nickel corner at the pro level. At 6-foot and 205 pounds, Parks put up 21 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press during his pro day while also running a 4.56-second 40-yard dash.
Will Parks was PFF's 11th-highest-graded safety in 2015, third-highest against the run. #BroncosDraft
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) April 30, 2016
Those numbers likely helped Parks sell himself as a more versatile safety with the capability to cover receivers down the field. While at Arizona, he excelled in the box and led his 2015 team with 76 tackles and seven for loss. He was a Pac-12 Conference honorable mention selection as a senior.
As a junior, Parks recorded 86 tackles and 13 tackles for loss.
In 53 total appearances, including 31 starts, Parks closed his Arizona career with 197 tackles, 20.5 for loss, 20 pass breakups and four interceptions.
