High School: Outstanding two-way player at North Allegheny High School near Pittsburgh under head coach Jim Rankin...attended the same high school as 2003 Blue Hen All-Atlantic 10 Conference tight end Rick Lavelle...had 53 tackles and 12 sacks as a senior during the 2001 season and was named first team All-State among big schools by the Associated Press...was a Pittsburgh Tribune Terrific 25 selection and was named the AAAA Defensive Player of the Year by the Pennsylvania Football News Magazine...played in Big 33 All-Star game...three-year starter and three-time Pittsburgh Quad North All-Star...four-year varsity wrestler...was ranked No. 1 in Western Pennsylvania and No. 2 in the state as a senior when he captured the state title at 275 Ibs....was AAA Southwest Region champion as a junior when he placed third at the state meet...posted a career record of 116-23...honor roll student...

At Delaware: All-American candidate and nominee for Buck Buchanan Award as top defensive player in NCAA I-AA...called by head coach K.C. Keeler “the best defensive tackle in I-AA football”...pre-season first team All-American by The Sports Network and by Street & Smith’s College Football 2005 Yearbook...fourth-year standout on Delaware defensive front...one of the most dominant tackles in I-AA football...pre-season first team All-Atlantic 10 in vote of league coaches...has outstanding strength and quickness and can single-handedly disrupt an offense...also an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American candidate...three-time member of Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference team...took part in NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Conference this past May in Orlando, FL...has appeared in 34 career games with 22 starts...career totals include 98 tackles (64 solo), 29 tackles for loss (122 yards), 13.5 sacks (71 yards), and four pass breakups...enters season 12th on UD career tackles for loss list and 16th on career quarterback sacks list...lifted 225 lbs. 22 time in spring testing to rank second among UD defensive linemen...bench pressed 400 lbs. to rank among team leaders...recorded a sack in spring game...

2004: Enjoyed a breakout year as a junior on the Blue Hen defensive front....teamed with senior Chris Mooney to provide one of the nation’s top pass rushing units...led a UD defense that posted 26 sacks on the season to rank among the Atlantic 10 leaders....led team to 9-4 record, the Atlantic 10 Conference title, and a berth in the NCAA I-AA quarterfinals...earned third team The Sports Network All-American and third team Associated Press All-American honors and was named first team All-East (ECAC) and first team All-Atlantic 10 ...was named Blue Hen Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Week three times...part of defense that ranked No. 2 in the Atlantic 10 in total defense (299.5) and No. 3 in scoring defense (17.8) and rushing defense (87.3)...ranked eighth on the team with 48 tackles, including 29 solo stops...led team with 15.5 tackles for loss (65 yards) and with 10.0 sacks (56 yards) while also registering two pass breakups...led the Atlantic 10 and ranked 16th in NCAA I-AA in sacks...recorded a career-high 10 tackles in the season opener vs. New Hampshire when he also had two sacks...also had seven tackles vs. Hofstra, including 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, and five stops vs. West Chester...also recorded two sacks vs. Villanova...recorded a tackle for loss in all but four games...

2003: One of Blue Hens' most improved players throughout the season...key member of defensive front that recorded 41 sacks and ranked fifth in NCAA I-AA in scoring defense (15.4), No. 16 in total defense (303.0), and No. 17 in rushing defense (114.3)...led team to 15-1 record, NCAA I-AA national title, and Atlantic 10 Conference championship...played in all 16 games and started 11 contests at tackle...ranked 10th on team and second among defensive linemen in tackles with 48, including 33 solo stops...ranked second on team with 13.5 tackles for loss (fifth in Atlantic 10) for 57 yards...had 3.5 sacks and added two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery...had season-high eight tackles vs. Northeastern, including three for losses, to earn Blue Hen Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Week honors...enjoyed some of his top games in the post-season...led team with two sacks and had four tackles for loss in the I-AA playoffs...posted six tackles and forced a fumble vs. Southern Illinois and had three tackles and recovered fumble which led to a touchdown and added a sack in NCAA I-AA title game win over Colgate...forced a fumble vs. Villanova...was named the Blue Hen Touchdown Club Most Improved Defensive Player...had second best vertical jump (33 inches) and second best clean lift (315 lbs.) among UD defensive linemen in spring testing...

2002: One of only three true freshmen to see action for the Hens along with deep snapper Brett Wharton and cornerback Roger Brown...team went 6-6 under first-year head coach K.C. Keeler...was projected as an offensive lineman but moved into defensive end spot prior to the season...appeared in five games as a reserve...saw action vs. Georgia Southern, The Citadel, West Chester, Northeastern, and Villanova...had one tackle each vs. Georgia Southern (in collegiate debut) and vs. West Chester...

Personal: Thomas William "Tom" Parks...born April 8, 1984...son of William and Patricia Parks...father is a special agent with the FBI...mother is a speech therapist...third of four sons...father played football at Kent State and Indiana (PA) University...brother, Luke, played football at the University of Dayton and brother, Jon, played rugby at Dayton...honor student as business major at Delaware...enjoys fishing in his spare time...has been active in DARE (youth anti-drug program) and Jubilee Kitchen (feeding homeless).