In the final AP Top 25 poll, the Penn State Nittany Lions have finished in the top 10 3 out of the last 4 seasons. James Franklin and his team are close to taking that next step and the one person who could help get them over the hump in 2020 is Micah Parsons.
Parsons finished last season with 14 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in the Cotton Bowl as Penn State beat Memphis 53-39. Parsons was the MVP of the game. He also earned 1st Team All-American honors, 1st Team All-Big 10, and was the Big 10 Linebacker of the Year. High accolades for just a sophomore.
Top 5 Prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft
ESPN’s long time NFL Draft analyst, Mel Kiper, just came out with his first draft Big Board for 2021, and Parsons is projected as being a top 5 pick.
As a draft prospect, Parsons has all the tools of a future All-Pro linebacker. He is 6’3 245-pounds and has been clocked in the mid 4.4’s during the offseason at Penn State. His measurables are off the chart.
Evaluation
On the field, he is a high-energy pass rusher that has the fast-twitch speed and athleticism to chase down opposing quarterbacks. He’s aggressive coming downhill against the run and has the versatility to play inside and outside depending on the down and distance.
In 2018, Parsons was the first true freshman to lead Penn State with 83 total tackles and the first linebacker to start since Cam Brown in 2016. He earned Freshman All-American honors and now has a 2-year track record of performing at an elite level.
Micah Parsons Career College Stats
| Year | Games | Total Tackles | TFL's | Sacks | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 13 | 109 | 14 | 5 | 4 |
| 2018 | 13 | 83 | 5 | 1.5 | 2 |
Linebacker U
Penn State is known around the country as Linebacker U and Parsons has done his part to maintain this reputation. He wears #11 just like Lavar Arrington and is on pace to finish his career in a similar fashion.
Final 4 in 2020?
The Nittany Lions are a team that will make a run at the Big 10 East Division Championship and could vie for a spot in the Final 4 Playoffs this year. If Penn State was fortunate enough to accomplish that as a team, you can bet Micah Parsons will be a big reason for their success.
