Desmond Parks left coaches around the Southeast with tears in their eyes.
The Greer, S.C., tight end, who authored a poem entitled "Cry, Cry, Cry" which was later published in the anthology "A Celebration of Young Poets", committed to play for the Gators Monday.
The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Parks, who wrote the poem as a high school freshman in 2006, chose UF over Clemson and North Carolina.
Parks caught 29 passes for more than 400 yards and 5 touchdowns last season as a junior - his first as a tight end after moving from defensive end.
Parks, rated as a three-star prospect by Scout.com and listed as the No. 41 tight end in the country, averaged 13.9 yards per catch as a junior.
With senior Cornelius Ingram set to graduate after the 2008 season, Parks hopes to compete for early playing time at UF.
Only sophomore Aaron Hernandez, the lone scholarship tight end on the roster for the 2009 season, figures to be ahead of the Greer High product when he enrolls this spring.
Parks said that the chance to compete for playing time as a freshman was one of the deciding factors in his decision. Playing time won't be easy, though, as Hernandez was a five-star prospect and the No. 1 rated player at his position.
"I know if I come in and work hard, I have a chance to play early," he said.
Parks' commitment is the eighth of the 2009 class for the Gators, who are well ahead of last year's pace. UF only had three players give oral commitments before the start of the 2007 season.
Parks received an offer from UF shortly after attending Urban Meyer's football camp in June.
He said that he was comfortable in Gainesville from the beginning.
"I just felt like it was the best fit for me," Parks said.
When Parks did not attend the Friday Night Lights football camp, it fueled speculation that he may have been leaning towards staying home to play for in-state program Clemson.
But Parks said that the distance from home was not a factor in his decision.
"It will be good for me," he said of the decision to go to school away from home.
Parks said that he is content with his commitment and will not be making the trip to any other schools.
He does plan to return to Gainesville in the fall with his parents for an official visit.
An elite prospect and budding author, Parks hopes that he can write his own chapter in the history of UF football.
"I'm excited about being a Gator," he said.
