MICAH PARSONS – Off-Ball Linebacker
Height/Weight: 6’3″/245lbs.
Birthplace: Harrisburg, PA
Team: Penn State Nittany Lions
Class: Junior
Age: 21
| Year | G | SOL | AST | TOT | SACKS |
| 2018 | 13 | 47 | 35 | 82 | 1.5 |
| 2019 | 13 | 52 | 57 | 109 | 5 |
Talent: Parsons came out of Harrisburg High School in 2018 as one of the most highly recruited and talented players in the entire country. Rated fifth overall nationally in the class, and 64th all-time at any position by 247sports.com, Parsons ticks every skill box a linebacker would need to succeed at the college level as well as the NFL.
Hand Quickness — 9
Speed — 9
Closing Speed — 9
First Step — 9
Athleticism — 9
Point of Attack — 8
Frame — 8
Size — 8
* https://247sports.com/player/micah-parsons-77264
Size and Speed: Based on Penn State workout results, Parsons posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.43 in February 2020. That 4.43 time is amazing for a player who maintains a bulky 6’3” 245lbs. frame. As you may have guessed, Parsons has prototypical size to play linebacker in the NFL from day one of his career.
Production: The 21-year-old stud proved his abilities on the field as a sophomore in 2019. In his 13 games, Parsons produced 109 total tackles and five sacks while leading the Nittany Lions defensive attack. His style as a downhill, aggressive type of player works well with his elite closing speed and ability to run from sideline-to-sideline.
Weaknesses: Parsons has trouble disengaging when being blocked by an offensive lineman. Because of this weakness, as opposing linemen move to the second level of the defense on run plays, Parsons prefers to run around blocks rather than take them on. This tendency can sometimes impact his effectiveness as a run defender. If he is able to clean up this tendency, there is no stopping Parsons.
COVID Impact: Parsons opted out of the 2020 college football season. Parsons’ lack of recent reps could cause him to need more time as a rookie to get his feel back. Additionally, a year off from on-field action can create soft tissue injury risk. Hopefully, Parsons and his training team have kept himself in shape while away from football in 2020.
Draft Slot: Parsons is projected to be chosen between the fifth and ninth slots in the 2021 NFL draft. Franchises selecting in that range include Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Detroit, Carolina, and Denver. For IDP purposes, the best landing spot for Parsons would be Carolina. The star linebacker would immediately fit perfectly into Carolina’s defense, taking over for Tahir Whitehead in 2021. After proving himself as a rookie, Parsons would become the long-term MIKE linebacker a-la Luke Kuechly. Kuechly was a top-10 draft pick in 2012, a five-time first-team All-Pro, and is a likely Hall-of-Famer. Setting Parsons’ ceiling up near Kuechly is a lofty comp, but Micah’s size, explosion, reliability, and intelligence are already near pro-bowl level as he enters the NFL.
Rookie IDP Ranking: Parsons will surely be a top-two IDP choice in 2021 rookie drafts barring any major issues.
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