Micah Parsons Drafted No. 12 Overall By Dallas Cowboys
Welcome to the NFL, Micah Parsons.
The All-American linebacker was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night. He’s the first Nittany Lion to be picked in the first round since the New York Giants chose Saquon Barkley with the second pick in 2018.
While Parsons only played two seasons in Happy Valley before opting out of his junior campaign amid the pandemic, he certainly left his mark on Penn State’s program. The defensive specialist racked up 191 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, and six forced fumbles as a Nittany Lion.
The Harrisburg native only started one game his first year, but he still led the team in tackles, becoming the first freshman to do so in program history. It was only up from there, however, as Parsons racked up too many awards and accolades during his sophomore campaign to count. Most notably, he was a consensus All-American and winner of the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award.
He solidified himself as the best linebacker in the country following the Nittany Lions’ 2019 Cotton Bowl victory over Memphis. Parsons recorded 14 tackles, two sacks, three tackles-for-loss, and two forced fumbles en route to a defensive MVP award.
Parsons’ competitiveness was on display throughout his entire Penn State career. He was a constant defensive force and put together one of the most memorable careers in the blue and white in recent history. Oh, and who could forget his time as a Spikeball superstar?
Parsons will continue the “Linebacker U” legacy in Dallas after former Penn State and Cowboys star Sean Lee retired in April. He’ll play under defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
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