National Signing Day is always a big day for high school football players. It was a big day for two of the best Public League players in the city this week. Will Parks and Myles Brooker from Germantown High selected where they will be playing their college football in the fall.

Parks will be headed to the University of Arizona. Brooker will be going to St. Francis (Pa.) in Loretto. Both players are scholar athletes. They will both play Division I football. Moreover, Parks and Brooker, who grew up playing on the same neighborhood football team, the Wissahickon Braves, are shining examples of what hard work can do on and off the field.

Parks, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior, played wide receiver and defensive back. He led Germantown to a 7-5 overall record. He had four interceptions. Parks was recruited by a number of major college programs. He originally committed to the University of Pittsburgh before deciding on Arizona. He’s excited about playing for the Wildcats.

“Arizona is a better fit for me,” Parks said. “It’s a little far away from home. Every major I was interested in is there. People are amazing out there. You can walk down the street. The people speak to you and they try to help you out. My chances of coming in and starting are same as it was at Pitt. They play defense with five defensive backs on the field. It’s good.

“Arizona plays in the PAC-12. It’s a big time conference, but you have to be ready for big time competition. That’s what it’s all about. You want to make it big. You want to play against bigger people.”

Parks will be playing for head coach Rich Rodriguez who also coached at West Virginia and Michigan before taking over at Arizona.

“He’s a great guy,” Parks said. “He keeps it real. He’s straight up with you. It’s big being able to play for him. It’s great to be under his wing.”

Parks was also happy for Brooker, his good friend and teammate.

“First of all, I knew Myles since I was six years old,” said Parks, who plans to major in sports medicine or psychology. “We played for the Wissahickon Braves. Then, we moved from the Braves to playing together and going to college. I’m just really proud of him.”

Brooker, a 6-foot, 150-pound senior, played wide receiver and defensive back this season for Germantown. As a receiver, Parks had 34 receptions for 692 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s looking forward to playing his college football for St. Francis, a FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) school.

“It’s a great academic school,” said Brooker, who plans to major in sports medicine. “I have a good opportunity to play early. I have a chance to contribute. Of course, it was a hard decision. I talked to my dad (Vincent Brooker), Coach Kelly (Cottle) and everybody from my school.

“It’s where I felt the most comfortable at and that’s where I could see myself playing for the next four years. I’m going to play wide receiver in college. I’m going to have to put on a few pounds. St. Francis is a Division I-AA program. They play in the NEC (Northeast Conference). They play some good competition. I want to be able to contribute as a freshman.”

Signing day at Germantown brought out plenty of family members as well as coaches, including Germantown head coach Mike Hawkins and the school principal Margaret Mullen-Bavwidinsi.

“This is the first wave we’re going to have at Germantown,” Hawkins said.

The Bears could have more seniors going to school down the road. Mullen-Bavwidinsi, Hawkins and their parents are really pleased with Parks and Brooker’s accomplishments.

“First of all, when I came here three years ago,” Mullen-Bavwidinsi said. “I met Coach Hawkins and the team. These young men were young and we asked them to be scholar athletes. We were emphasizing the word ‘scholar.’ You can always be an athlete, but to be a good student in school is major. So, these gentlemen pushed themselves to be scholar athletes and that’s the most important thing. They remembered the goals for themselves. We have to thank their parents. We couldn’t have done it without them. The next milestone for them is to graduate from college and beyond and move into their careers.”

Parks and Brooker should be well prepared for the next level.

Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .