Micah Parsons is opting out of the 2020 college football season, a program source confirmed to Lions247.
Yahoo Sports’ Eric Edholm first reported this development. Parsons joins Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman as top-tier Big Ten talents to make that move this week.
The 2019 Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, Parsons is projected as a high first-round 2021 NFL Draft prospect. He carried two seasons of collegiate eligibility into 2020 as a junior but was widely projected to depart campus following the 2020 campaign.
Last season, Parsons was a finalist for the Butkus Award, presented annually to college football’s top linebacker, after totaling 109 tackles — 14 for loss — and five sacks. He capped off that effort with Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP honors (14 tackles, two forced fumbles, two sacks) in a win over Memphis.
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
Micah Parsons reportedly plans to opt out of Penn State football’s 2020 season and enter the 2021 NFL Draft. https://t.co/NrlR3aOZsX
— Onward State (@OnwardState) August 5, 2020
