Aidan Parks wasn’t ready to give up football in Montana quite yet. Parks committed to Montana Tech on Tuesday, two weeks after announcing his entry into the transfer portal. The Chico, California native had previously played three seasons at Montana State as a reserve defensive player and special teams contributor. Parks is a graduate transfer with two seasons of eligibility remaining. He intends to spend both in Butte as an edge rusher.
“Going out there for the visit, you can definitely tell they love their ball—the town does, and the coaches are really passionate about it,” Parks told 406mtsports.com on Tuesday. “I’m ready to get after it up there.”
Parks played safety, nickelback, and linebacker during his three seasons with the Cats after committing to MSU. He doesn’t need to gain weight to be an NAIA edge rusher since, at 6-foot and roughly 220 pounds, he’s large for a safety and about average for a linebacker at the FCS level, he said. Parks stated, “There will undoubtedly be some change, but nothing too drastic or difficult for me to handle.”
Parks announced his retirement from the MSU football team following the previous season, with the intention of transferring the week he receives his bachelor’s degree. Before deciding on Tech, he gave consideration to a few Texas universities. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play football or not. Later in my career, I possibly could have done some other things,” Parks remarked. “However, I realized I only had these two years left, so I might as well make the most of them and spend them at a place like Tech to make the most out of my final two years.”
Parks choose the Orediggers primarily because he wanted to stay in Montana and to rejoin some of his former MSU teammates. Trey Yates, a defensive lineman, wide receiver Mark Estes, quarterback Blake Thelen, and wide receiver Dylan Snyder were the four former Bobcats on Tech’s 2023 roster. Parks remarked, “They love their ball here in Montana.” “It’s a terrific location for play.”
When the football season was postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19, Parks enrolled at MSU. Neither that year nor his redshirted season in 2021 was deducted from his eligibility. He made appearances in 12 games last fall, mostly on special teams, and eight games in 2022. Parks stated that obtaining a master’s degree and having a greater opportunity to get playing time were the main reasons for his transfer. At Tech, he will pursue a degree in multidisciplinary studies.
“Also just pick up something new, experience something different, and write another chapter in my football career,” he continued. Ten known MSU players have accessed the site since the conclusion of the 2023 campaign, Parks included. The remaining nine players are running back Garrett Coon (still in the portal), defensive back Kendric Bailey (still in the portal), wide receiver Christian Anaya (still in the portal), and offensive lineman Omar Aigbedion (signed with Baylor). Kade Cutler from Montana, LB Jace Fitzgerald from Montana Western, Rush Reimer from California, OL Jacob Kettels from Kennesaw State, and defensive lineman Sebastian Val Washington.