Farewell, Micah
Penn State certainly tried to convince All-American linebacker Micah Parsons to return this season, diving into conversations when the Big Ten announced its play football again.
But unlike other conference stars, Parsons has affirmed his decision to opt out of the 2020 season. It wasn't an easy call, though.
"It was a very rough decision, I'll say that," Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry said Wednesday. "Micah was pretty torn, and it [dragged] on for days before things were official."
Penn State coach James Franklin confirmed Parsons' decision Wednesday during the team's virtual media day, ending the possibility that the Lions might get back their best defensive player for one more season.
Initially, Franklin had held out hope that Parsons, a potential top-10 NFL draft pick, might reconsider, as did other Big Ten stars like Purdue's Rondale Moore, Minnesota's Rashod Bateman and Ohio State's Wyatt Davis and Shaun Wade.
Ultimately, though, Franklin said that too much time and distance had separated Parsons from Penn State. The linebacker opted out of the season before Penn State began training camp in early August and has been working out in California to prepare for the 2021 NFL draft.
He also has embraced a new life outside State College. Parsons recently posted an Instagram photo of himself on a private plane with former Penn State linebackers LaVar Arrington and NaVorro Bowman. All three wore No. 11 for the Lions.
"I think there was a legitimate possibility for [Parsons to return], but as we continued to talk and continued to work with it, the timing of it made it challenging," Franklin said. "He had been gone for so long and been to California training. That made it a little bit more complicated than we were able to work through."
Not that the coaches didn't try. After the Big Ten announced its return plans Sept. 16, Franklin and Pry immediately reached out to Parsons about his plans. Pry said that Penn State "dove in deep" with Parsons and his family about the possibility.
But with Parsons being "knee-deep" in his training in California, Pry said, the coaches soon realized that a reunion wouldn't occur. Franklin said he maintains a "really strong relationship" with Parsons and his family, and Pry had nothing but praise for the player he has known for six years.
"Obviously you guys know how I feel about Micah," Pry said. "I only wish him the best, and I'm very thankful for what he did. It was awesome seeing him play in the blue and white and what he did for this defense and for this football team and football community. I've got nothing but love for him, and I'm going to be pulling for him each and every Sunday in the league."
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