In the past few days two potential first-round players for the 2021 NFL Draft announced they were opting out of the season ahead, Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley and Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman.
A third player joined them, and it is a big one: Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.
Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports had the news late on Tuesday night:
Sources tell me that Penn State LB Micah Parsons is expected to opt out of the 2020 college season and enter the 2021 NFL draft
Should be made official later tonight or early tomorrow.https://t.co/1rBqoccKN3
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) August 5, 2020
Parsons confirmed it on Thursday with this statement:
‘Dear Penn State’: In his own words, Micah Parsons says why he’s opting out of the 2020 college football season https://t.co/FCwav8k2NU
— PennLive.com (@PennLive) August 6, 2020
Parsons is a very big name in draft circles. Viewed by most evaluators as the clear favorite in this class of off-ball linebackers, Parsons is perhaps a top five selection overall. In the most recent Touchdown Wire mock draft, the Penn State defender came off the board sixth overall to the New York Giants.
When you watch Parsons on film, you see plays like this all of the time:
Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons (@Micah_Parsons11) is so fast and hits with so much power. Watch as he causes a fumble stopping Indiana's tight end at the half inch line of the goal-line. Such a special player.#WNSFilm pic.twitter.com/MPNa0ziYP7
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) November 19, 2019
Micah Parsons (@Micah_Parsons11) played a heck of a game against Michigan. 11 tackles, his instincts and speed to the ball is next level, he is just a playmaker. He was a force Saturday night.#WNSFilm pic.twitter.com/J3ovoYGFQO
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) October 21, 2019
Mike Renner, the lead draft analyst at Pro Football Focus, recently called Parsons the “best college linebacker prospect since Luke Kuechly.” Renner went on to say of the Penn State product:
Over the past decade, only seven off-ball linebackers have been taken with a top-10 pick in the NFL draft. But barring injury or a surprise return to school, there will be another in 2021 — Penn State’s Micah Parsons. And he isn’t just any top-10 pick — he’s the closest thing to a linebacker prototype since Luke Kuechly coming out of Boston College back in 2012.
Parsons has ideal size, athleticism and production for a linebacker prospect, and he was only a sophomore last season. If he could have declared for the 2020 NFL Draft, the chances are he would have been selected before Isaiah Simmons.
That’s the caliber of prospect we’re talking about: What Penei Sewell is to the offensive tackle position, Parsons looks like for linebackers.
Now what awaits instead of another season in front of the Penn State faithful? The NFL.