U of S Huskie Charlie Parks ready to compete at CFL Combine

Charlie Parks didn’t play much football in 2024 due to a back injury.

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies defensive end bounced back in a big way, though, and will now showcase his talents to CFL teams one last time before the CFL Draft.

The Regina, Sask., product is one of the participants at this year’s CFL Combine in Edmonton.

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It allows a number of draft-eligible prospects a chance to compete in drills and interview with teams ahead of the CFL Draft to make their case as to why a team should select them.

“It doesn’t feel real. This is something that I have thought about for a long time, playing football. Back when I was 11 years old, a couple of my teammates at the time on the Pee Wee Riders told me, ‘Man, you’re going to be playing in the CFL,’ and I was like, there’s no way,” Parks said. “To be so close, it’s awesome.”

Parks is excited for every drill and opportunity at the scouting showcase.

“I think I bring something in every drill. I’m just excited to go put the genuine article on tape,” Parks said.

He has also leaned on the advice of his Huskie teammates who have went to the combine such as Saskatchewan Roughrider draft picks, Seth Hundeby and Daniel Wiebe.

“Just asking them and picking their brain for it is really helpful,” Parks said.

It was a long road to recovery for Parks, who suffered a back injury in their final home game of the 2023 season. He was sent on a blitz as an outside linebacker and got hurt on the play. He went ahead and played in the playoff game but he admits that didn’t do him any favours.

So he only played in a handful of games in 2024 before he had to be shut down.

“It was the toughest year of my life. We still crack jokes about it with the Huskie guys – I was walking doubled-over for 10 months because my back and all the nerves hurt so bad, I couldn’t stand up straight,” Parks said. “My mom can attest to it. When I woke up from getting surgery, I just popped up. It felt like I could do whatever I wanted again.

“To have to wait six weeks before I could start playing football again was tough. Glad I got through it and glad I got back here.”

He bounced back in a big way in 2025, recording six and a half sacks and was named the Canada West lineman of the year.

“It felt amazing. That was on my shortlist for goals at the start of the year,” Parks said. “To be able to accomplish it and come back from missing a full season and to come back and get right back into the swing of things and do it better than I have before, it’s one of those things where it feels like everything you did and everything you went through just paid off.”

With the CFL Draft taking place on April 28, Parks admitted it’s surreal how close the event is.

“All the hard work and hours put in are finally getting to be paid off. It’s so rewarding,” he said.