On Thursday night, Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons is expected to be chosen in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft in Cleveland. Parsons will be among the 13 players attending the draft in person, and he will not be alone representing the Nittany Lions. Penn State head coach James Franklin says he will be making the trip to Cleveland to support one of the best defensive players he has coached in Happy Valley.
Following Friday night’s spring practice in Beaver Stadium, Franklin shared some of his thought son Parsons as he prepares to begin his journey in the NFL. Here is what the head coach of Penn State had to say about one of the top defensive players in the 2021 NFL Draft:
I think the thing that really jumps out with Micah is how well he is able to retain information and how deeply thinks about subjects like his teammates or like the organization that drafts him. Some of the messages and conversations I’ve had with Micah over the years were really impressive, thoughtful conversations. I think he’s also a guy that that loves to compete. I think whenever the periods in practice when the drills were competitive in nature, he brings a different element to your organization. That was something that always jumped out.
Parsons sat out the 2020 season due to health concerns during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he returned to State College to put on quite a show during Penn State’s pro day at the beginning of spring practices. The display by Parsons and others, including defensive end Jayson Oweh, led Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to refer to Penn State’s pro day as a freak show. Parsons has been projected to be a consensus first-round draft pick, although where exactly he goes in the first round has been up for debate among mock draft experts.
Wherever Parsons ends up going, Franklin knows the linebacker will be ready to enjoy the moment and compete in everything he does.
I think you guys know he’s a guy that loves bowling and things like that. Whatever you do with Micah, he is going to battle and compete like crazy. So, I just think his ability to have fun out at practices and meetings and his ability to retain information. I think he brings a little bit of an edge to your defense and to your program. But I think one of the things that he’s learned here, which I think is an important lesson that so many players need to learn, is when is it the time to have fun and be silly and mess around and laugh? And when is it time to lock in and be focused? And Micah has learned that. I think it’s an important lesson to learn and something we talk about a lot with our guys and Micah is in a really good place with that.
The NFL draft begins Thursday, April 29 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.
[vertical-gallery id=1228]
[listicle id=2307]
[lawrence-related id=2246,1558,1481,1393,1190]