SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Sept. 2, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — University of Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham on Monday announced senior wide receiver Money Parks as the Utes’ 22 Forever Memorial Scholarship recipient for 2024.
The annual scholarship is awarded to a football player who “exemplifies the inspiring qualities” demonstrated by former Utes Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe, who died in separate incidents in 2020 and 2021,” Utah Athletics officials said in a news release.
“They were loved by their families, friends and teammates for their infectious smiles, humility, dedication, determination and leadership through positivity,” the release says.
“Those two are my brothers,” Parks says of Jordan and Lowe in a video posted on social media Monday.
“[It’s] somewhat like relief because I felt like I wanted to get it last year and I didn’t. This year was more of a relief getting it because I really want to represent my brothers for sure, and want to make their family proud and my family proud as well.
“I’m going out there every day, and I’m not playing just for myself or for the [University of Utah]. I’m playing for two other guys, two other brothers that are a part of our team, that made big strides on this team. … I’m playing for them every day.”
Parks was voted as a member of the Utah Football Leadership Council this season and graduated with his degree in communication this past spring.
The Aledo, Texas, native has been with the program since 2020 and has played in 40 career games with 18 starts for the Utes.
Parks has been one of Utah’s most consistent players on offense in recent years and has caught at least one pass in 25 consecutive games. The 5-10, 175-pound receiver has totaled 59 catches for 723 yards and five touchdowns during his Utes career.
He had one catch for 4 yards in the Utes’ 49-0 season-opening victory over Southern Utah on Thursday night.
Lowe, 21, was shot and killed following an argument at a party Sept. 26, 2021. He died at the scene, while a second shooting victim was taken to an area hospital and underwent surgery for multiple injuries.
Lowe was a sophomore cornerback for the Utes at the time of his death. Less than a year earlier, Jordan, his longtime friend and teammate, died from an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound on Dec. 26, 2020.
Lowe and Jordan, 19, had been friends and high school football teammates in Mesquite, Texas, before teaming up again at Utah. After the Utah running back’s accidental death, Lowe changed his number to Jordan’s No. 22.
In August 2021, Lowe became the first recipient of the Ty Jordan Memorial Scholarship, which was created to honor Jordan following his tragic death. The scholarship is now known as the 22 Forever Memorial Scholarship to honor both Jordan and Lowe.
The Utah football program also retired the No. 22 in the players’ honor.
