Micah Parsons' Penn State career is over as the Nittany Lions' star linebacker has elected to opt out of the 2020 college football season to prepare for the NFL Draft, he announced on Instagram.
Last season, Parson finished with 109 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, six sacks, five pass defenses and four forced fumbles, earning himself All-American honors and the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year Award.
Parsons arrived at Penn State as the No. 5 overall player in the 2018 class and the top player in the state of Pennsylvania. At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds and with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, he has elite athleticism.
Parsons, a projected high first-round pick and widely considered the top linebacker in the 2021 NFL draft class, becomes the third potential first-round pick to decide to opt out of the upcoming season, joining Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley and Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman.
Justin Fields and Shaun Wade, both projected first-round picks for the Buckeyes, both said they are not considering opting out of the 2020 season.
