There\u2019s a calm confidence about Charlie Parks these days, the kind that doesn\u2019t waver, even as one of the biggest weeks of his football career rapidly approaches.<\/p>\n
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies defensive lineman is days away from showcasing his skills at the CFL Combine in Edmonton. Still, you wouldn\u2019t know it by the way he carries himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels like I started Combine training like a month ago, and it\u2019s already next week,\u201d Parks said with a laugh.<\/p>\n
For some, the countdown to a moment like this can feel overwhelming. For Parks, it\u2019s been anything but.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like it\u2019s moving the same, status quo stuff. Still training just as hard, not trying to push any harder just because it\u2019s close.\u201d<\/p>\n
That steady approach has been a theme throughout his journey, one rooted in routine, discipline, and perspective.<\/p>\n
Since wrapping up his U SPORTS season, Parks has balanced the grind of Combine prep with student life, something he jokes has been just as demanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting terrorized by classes. Lifting, eating, just hanging out.\u201d<\/p>\n
But beneath the humour is a player who understands exactly what\u2019s in front of him and what it could mean.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gets a little bit big when you really sit back and think about it,\u201d Parks admitted. \u201cBut I\u2019m just going to go in, be myself. I think being genuine will be the best thing I could do.\u201d<\/p>\n
That mindset extends beyond interviews, which are often overlooked yet critical components of the Combine experience.<\/p>\n
With guidance from former Huskies who\u2019ve gone through the process, Parks has prepared for everything from answering questions to presenting himself professionally.<\/p>\n
While the stage is new, the preparation isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Parks hasn\u2019t reinvented his offseason; he\u2019s refined it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe structure hasn\u2019t really changed very much, but the content of the training has. The Combine is a specific set of skills; your training has to reflect that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Working alongside trusted Huskies staff, Parks has focused on showcasing what makes his game effective: speed, intelligence, and explosiveness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not the biggest guy. I make a lot of my plays with my speed and my brain.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a style that translates to the collegiate level and one he believes will stand out, especially once the pads come on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think my game really shines through\u201d in on-field sessions, he added.<\/p>\n
If there\u2019s one thing Parks keeps coming back to, it\u2019s simplicity.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t make the moment too big. Control what you can. Treat it like any other big game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to prep for it the same way I\u2019d prep for a playoff game. Make sure I get to bed at the right time, eat right, control everything I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
That approach also fuels his confidence, not arrogance, but belief.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here because I earned it,\u201d Parks said. \u201cI earned it because I\u2019m good enough to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n
While testing numbers will matter, Parks isn\u2019t fixated on chasing a specific benchmark.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only standard I set for myself is better than the last time I did it.\u201d<\/p>\n
And when it comes to the on-field portion, the one-on-ones, the team reps, that\u2019s where his excitement really shows.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny excuse I get to play more football is a great one. I just love competing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ask Parks if he knows exactly what to expect in Edmonton, and the answer is simple.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m confident.\u201d<\/p>\n
That confidence, paired with preparation and perspective, has him in a strong position heading into one of the most important evaluations of his career.<\/p>\n
Now, it\u2019s just about going out and proving it one rep at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There\u2019s a calm confidence about Charlie Parks these days, the kind that doesn\u2019t waver, even as one of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":564408,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,217727,82],"class_list":["post-564407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-canadian-football-league","tag-canadianfootballleague","tag-cfl","tag-cfluniversity-of-saskatchewan-huskiescanada-west-footballcfl-combinecharlie-parks","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564407","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=564407"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/564407\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/564408"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=564407"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=564407"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=564407"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}