Tag: Micah Parsons

Ravens DE Jayson Oweh wants fans, media to call him by his birth name

After being selected by the Baltimore Ravens, DE Jayson Oweh is letting the world know the name he wants to go by in the NFL.

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It was an exciting night for Penn State football on night one of the NFL draft. Two Penn Staters heard their names called when commissioner Roger Goodell stepped up to the podium in Cleveland, Thursday night.

Micah Parsons was selected No. 12 overall by the Dallas Cowboys and Jayson Oweh was taken No. 31 overall by the Baltimore Ravens.

Both players were ecstatic to hear each other’s names called and to represent Penn State in the NFL, but Oweh had more to say now that he’ll be a household name in the Ravens community.

When Oweh spoke with the Ravens media after being drafted, he said that he wants to be called by his first name, Odafe (O-dah-FAY).

Oweh’s middle name, Jayson, is what he went with throughout his career at Penn State because he thought Odafe would be difficult to pronounce for fans, media and others that followed Penn State football.

Now, Oweh is embracing his first name and making sure the rest of the football world does the same.

“I don’t care anymore,” he said. “You’re going to have to learn how to pronounce it.”

Oweh goes to a Baltimore Ravens team that has had success at developing edge rushers in years past. Defensive coordinator Don Martindale has over 16 years of NFL experience coaching the defensive side of the ball and has led the Ravens for years as one of the better defensive teams in the NFL.

With the addition of Oweh, the Ravens are getting a freakishly athletic defensive end who has all the tools to make an impact for their franchise.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

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Draft Grades: Most observers feel Cowboys could’ve done better with 1st rounder

Report card for the Dallas Cowboys and their selection of linebacker Micah Parsons in Round 1 of NFL draft.

Not all drafts can be as fun as it was for fans of the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 when wide receiver CeeDee Lamb fell right into their laps. This year the players most mocked to head to the Metroplex were snatched in consecutive picks before the Cowboys were on the clock. One trade and 20 minutes later, they turned in the card for Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.

The Dallas brass has spent considerable draft capital at the linebacker position. In 2016 it was Jaylon Smith at No. 34. In 2018 it was Leighton Vander Esch at pick No. 19 and now Parsons at No. 12. Here’s how they fared on some report cards.

How Micah Parsons potentially fits Cowboys starting depth chart

Can Micah Parsons play right away as a three-down LB or will Quinn have to invent ways to use his new defensive weapon?

Micah Parsons is a prospect who was splitting the Dallas Cowboys’ fanbase for months. Was he just an athletic freak who had diagnosis problems and didn’t get much time in coverage, or was he a five-tool LB prospect who can impact the defense on all levels with pass rush, run stopping ability, and in coverage?

The Cowboys organization is hoping he is the latter.  Parsons will be an immediate starter at either Will or Sam LB. If the defensive line can keep him clean from opposing offensive lineman, he will run around and make plays all over the field. He was an edge rusher in high school and should bring a great ability to blitz and cause havoc for opposing quarterbacks.

This could be a great problem to have, but Dan Quinn will need to figure out who plays on passing downs. Jaylon Smith has had his issues in coverage, it has been a strength for Leighton Vander Esch, but would it be wise to get him off the field in order to help alleviate his injury concerns?

Then there is free agent signing Keanu Neal who was brought in to be a coverage LB, but how does he fit now? Does he take some of Donovan Wilson’s snaps instead? Parsons now enters this equation as well, does he have the experience to take someone’s spot in the nickel coverage downs?

Here’s a look at the potential Front-7 depth chart as it stands after Round 1.

5-Tech LDE

1. DeMarcus Lawrence
2. Bradlee Anae

1-Tech Nose Tackle

1. Brent Urban
2. Antwaun Woods

3-Tech Under Tackle

1. Neville Gallimore
2. Trysten Hill
3. Carlos Watkins

7-Tech RDE/LEO

1. Randy Gregory
2. Tarell Basham

Sam LB/ DPR

1. Micah Parsons
2. Dorance Armstrong, Jr.
3. Azur Kamara

Mike LB

1. Leighton Vander Esch
2. Francis Bernard
3. Luke Gifford

Will LB

1. Jaylon Smith
2. Keanu Neal

Ezekiel Elliott issues warning to Cowboys’ first-round pick, LB Micah Parsons

The star Dallas RB took to social media to urge rookie LB Micah Parsons to ease up on his tackling once they hit the practice field.

As a guy who hasn’t played football since December 2019, Micah Parsons cannot wait to strap on pads and go hit somebody again.

The Cowboys’ offensive stars, though, may want to draw straws to see who has to be the young linebacker’s first practice target. But rest assured, two-time rushing champ and Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott says it won’t be him.

Parsons made no bones about his excitement in being the Cowboys’ first-round selection, and it’s not just so he can square off against Eagles and Giants on Sundays. As the Penn State defender told Dallas media members on a conference call Thursday night, he’s especially looking forward to the challenge he’ll face in practice every single day.

“I’m going to go against the best offense in America the whole season,” Parsons said per the team website, “so it’s only going to make me better.”

But don’t look for the 21-year-old to be bringing the lumber to the team’s bread-and-butter players. One of them, in fact, has already taken to social media to urge Parsons to dial it down when they finally see the field.

Fans can expect Parsons to go all-out in training camp as he strives to prove the Cowboys front office right in taking him with the 12th overall pick. But as for blowing up a running back with everything he’s got, Parsons may have to wait a while.

Saquon Barkley, Dalvin Cook, Christian McCaffrey, and Alvin Kamara will be in his sights soon enough.

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Why Cowboys fans should be excited about Micah Parsons

Breaking down the Dallas Cowboys’ selection of Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons in the 2021 NFL draft

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The Dallas Cowboys finally came to the podium for the No. 12 pick in the draft after trading down two spots with the Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas chose to go with linebacker Micah Parsons.

The team recently lost one Penn State linebacker when Sean Lee announced his retirement from the NFL. They have since replaced him with another Penn State linebacker in Parsons. Over the two seasons he played prior to opting out in 2020, Parsons played in 26 games with 191 combined tackles, 6.5 sacks, and six fumble recoveries. The team has an obvious need at the linebacker position and the Cowboys were able to pounce on it immediately.

With Parsons now in the fold for Dallas, he will compete with Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith at the linebacker position. One that used to be a strength for this team but has essentially been less so over the last couple of seasons. Parsons will get an opportunity to win the starting job in Dan Quinn’s defense this upcoming season.

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2021 NFL draft tracker: Tracking every Penn State player in the draft

Keeping tabs and updating draft results connected to Penn State football players like Micah Parsons and Jayson Oweh

College football’s best players are about to turn pro. The NFL draft gets underway Thursday evening in Cleveland, Ohio with the first round of the 2021 draft. Among the first-round picks being made Thursday night will include Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and BYU quarterback Zach Wilson likely leading things off for the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets. But as the draft unfolds, Penn State will add to its history of drafted players with linebacker Micah Parsons, defensive end Jayson Oweh, and tight end Pat Freiermuth heading to an NFL team.

We’ll be tracking all of the NFL draft action from start to finish with our draft tracker and updating you on where former Nittany Lions are heading. As the picks happen, we’ll update this draft tracker with all of the information you need to know about the draft picks involving Penn State players.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion!

5 realistic 1st-round options for Washington in 2021 NFL draft

The 2021 NFL draft is finally here. No more smokescreens. We will finally see which teams are serious about going all-in for a quarterback.

The 2021 NFL draft is finally here. No more smokescreens. We will finally see which teams are serious about going all-in for a quarterback.

The Washington Football Team is in an interesting position with their first-round pick at No. 19 overall. Will the team move up? Move back? Realistically, I believe the team stays patient and takes the best player available at a position of need.

Fortunately, that strategy would line up well with Washington’s needs. WFT enters the draft with needs at offensive tackle and linebacker. However, that doesn’t mean Washington is out on other positions such as safety, wide receiver — and quarterback.

If Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields begins to slip down the board, watch out for Washington. Will he make it to No. 19? I just don’t see it. The slander on Fields throughout this process is mind-boggling. But, say he did, Washington would likely be interested.

Here are the five most realistic options for the Washington Football Team in the 2021 NFL draft, assuming the team sticks at No. 19.

 

 

2021 NFL draft: Who should the Panthers pick in round one?

Vote below for your choice for the Panthers at No. 8 overall and let us know what you think on Twitter and Facebook.

Most fans will never get to be general manager of a football team, no matter how hard they might try. Tonight the 2021 NFL draft begins, and with it comes the opportunity for the Carolina Panthers to hit the reset button after three straight losing seasons.

The first step towards a turnaround will be making the right pick in the first round of the draft. Let’s give the fans a chance to chime in on who they should take. Vote below for your choice for the Panthers at No. 8 overall and let us know what you think on Twitter and Facebook.

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Washington gets the top linebacker in new Touchdown Wire mock draft

The Washington Football Team desperately needs a playmaker at linebacker. Fortunately for the Football Team, the 2021 NFL draft offers them

The Washington Football Team desperately needs a playmaker at linebacker. Fortunately for the Football Team, the 2021 NFL draft offers them some strong options.

There is no better option than Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.

At one point, it seemed inevitable that Parsons would be the first defensive player selected and somewhere in the latter half of the top 10. However, some maturity issues from his past lingered, which questioned how high he would go.

In Doug Farrar’s final mock draft for Touchdown Wire, he has Parsons falling to No. 19 and landing with the Washington Football Team. This would be a home run for the WFT.

With five former first-round picks on their defensive line, and the brilliant acquisition of cornerback William Jackson III in free agency, the Football Team is setting itself up to have perhaps the NFL’s best defense in 2021. They ranked third last season behind only the Steelers and Saints in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted metrics, so it’s not a far-fetched claim. The one thing that could push Ron Rivera’s defense over the top is the addition of a true table-setting linebacker who can blitz, blow up run fits, and has the agility to cover all over the field. Parsons qualifies on all counts. Built like a terrifying strong safety at 6-foot-3 and 246 pounds, Parsons has a rare combination of blitz ability, run-stopping and coverage potential that would give Rivera a taste of the linebacker talent he had with the Panthers in Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis.

Parsons is a plug-and-play linebacker for Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.

If he is available at No. 19, it’s difficult to see Washington passing on a phenomenal talent at a position of need.

 

Penn State’s NFL draft history through the years

With plenty of Penn State talent, we take a look at the history of players that get their name called on draft night.

The 2021 NFL Draft is slated to kick off around 8 PM ET on Thursday night. Football fans are getting excited (and nervous) to see how their favorite teams’ front offices decide which players they want to develop into future stars.

This year, Penn State has a handful of players that should get their name called over the next several days. Top draft prospects Micah Parsons will hear his name on Thursday night pending any chaos that unfolds. Jayson Oweh has been mocked in the first round, but he could fall down to the top half of the second round along with tight end Pat Freiermuth.

Shaka Toney, Lamont Wade, Will Fries and Michael Menet fill out the rest of the 2021 draft prospects for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State football has had 361 drafted players over the years, which is tied for third-most in the Big Ten (behind Michigan and Ohio State) and sixth-most all-time.

In the 2020 NFL Draft, Penn State had five players drafted. Yetur Gross-Matos (Panthers), KJ Hamler (Broncos), John Reid (Texans), Cam Brown (Giants), and Robert Windsor (Colts).

The 1987 NFL Draft was the best year for Penn State football. After coming off a National Championship win over the Miami Hurricanes, 13 players were drafted. LB Shane Conlan was drafted 8th overall to the Buffalo Bills and RB D.J. Dozier was selected 14th overall to the Minnesota Vikings.

Since 2006, the Nittany Lions have had at least one player drafted for 15 straight years. 62 players during that 15-year span that sported the blue and white had their name called.

Make sure to tune in to the 2021 NFL Draft to see which Penn State players get to be a part of the rich history of NFL players to come out of Happy Valley.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

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