One of Clemson’s veteran leaders on the offensive line, Walker Parks, got hurt during fall camp. Fortunately for Parks and the Tigers, the injury wasn’t overly serious.

Parks, a sixth-year senior, was injured during Clemson’s first scrimmage of camp on Aug. 9. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder met with the media Tuesday and said he suffered a Grade 2 PCL tear and LCL sprain when his knee got rolled up on.

“I honestly got lucky. It really wasn’t too bad,” Parks said. “I was getting some reps at center, and then set where my foot got stuck in the ground and [knee] got rolled over. It was like a Grade 2 PCL tear and then LCL sprain. That actually healed up pretty quick, and I felt fine after about a week or two. … So just needed some time, and thankful it wasn’t worse.”

One of the few remaining super seniors, Parks has faced his share of adversity in recent years. In 2023, Parks suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2. He logged just 123 snaps that season.

Parks bounced back last year, starting all 14 games, while earning third-team All-ACC honors. He also earned Clemson Athletics’ Brandon Streeter Award, presented annually to the student-athlete — male or female across all sports — who has overcome injury or illness to perform at a high level on the field of competition.

Understandably, Parks was concerned when he went down with the injury in fall camp before this season, given how he’s dealt with so many injuries over the course of his Clemson career.

Parks was initially worried he had sustained an ACL injury.  

“I can’t lie, that one was a little scary,” he admitted. “When I got hit, I felt my knee kind of pop a little bit, and then I tried to stand up and it felt stiff. So immediately in my head, I was like ACL, and I was like, ‘No way, man.’ I was like, ‘First scrimmage of the year, sixth year.’ I was like, ‘Please don’t be an ACL or please don’t be anything too bad.’ So, I got the MRI and got the good news, so I was thankful for that.”

Parks dressed out for the season opener against LSU, but was only available on an emergency basis and did not play. He returned to action with nine snaps in the second game of the season vs. Troy and then played all 63 snaps in last week’s game at Georgia Tech.