The Broncos made eight draft selections during the 2016 NFL Draft, and all eight picks have made the 53-man roster, including sixth-round safety Will Parks.

Parks came out of the University of Arizona where he played strong safety. He had 20.5 tackles for loss in his college career to go with four interceptions and 20 pass breakups.

Like any rookie in the league, he’s ready for the games to matter.

“It’s exciting for me to go out there and get my feet wet,” Parks told Danny Williams on Mile High Sports Radio. “Being my first NFL game, it’s a dream come true. Making the 53-man roster is also a dream come true. I am feeling pretty confident going into my first game.”

Feeling confident in himself is something he has learned to do. Parks was raised to show emotion and compete for what you love to do, and he has the same outlook on the game of football.

“I’m passionate about the game,” Parks said. “My upbringing and my circumstances kind of motivate me to go out there and to be emotional and passionate on all different levels. I’m grateful and blessed to be here in this position. Just have fun, it’s a game of fun. If you take your time to do your job and do it the right way, then you can’t do anything more than to play football on a daily basis from 8-5. I will do this in my sleep if I have to.”

Parks looks for help gaining experience in the league and has done so through his teammate TJ Ward. Ward is a veteran in the NFL who directs these young guys in the right direction.

“TJ, they think we are the same person,” Parks said. “He relayed to me the kind of way he plays the game, the way he goes out there with fire. Every time you look at the practice film, he’s chasing the ball down. These guys aren’t your everyday vets. They teach you the ins and outs. They let us know everything that they know.”

Another veteran Parks has shadowed this training camp is DeMarcus Ware. He knew his history before they became teammates, and Ware has been the guy that Parks looks up to while getting settled in.

“I grew up watching him when he was on the Cowboys,” Parks said. “I first started getting to know him when he had that crazy spin move he used on everybody. I knew about him when he went to Troy University. He was the first person to come out of that school and get into the league and have success. Who wouldn’t want to look up to a person like that?”

With veterans like Ward and Ware on defense, Parks feels there will be nothing different from last seasons defensive success.

“This is a new year and a new team, different people on the team,” Parks said. “I think coach is doing a pretty good job in setting us up to be successful. Coach Wade is one of the best defensive coordinators in the whole entire league.”

To catch the full interview with Will Parks, click the podcast below…

https://soundcloud.com/milehighsports/9-6-16-danny-and-ryan-catch-up-with-rookie-safety-will-parks-from-the-broncos

Catch Danny Williams Monday-Friday from 2p-4p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup.