Blue White Illustrated

put that weight back on. He was listed at 242 pounds on Pro Day. He also took an opportunity to share a charity endeavor. He donated $2,400 to the Boys and Girls Club of America after reaching 24 reps on the bench press. Others joined in, and he said he raised between $4,000 and $5,000 thanks to those contributions. RESULTS Bench: 24 reps at 225 pounds; vertical leap: 39.0 inches; broad jump: 10 feet, 8 inches; 40: 4.51 seconds; pro drill: 4.28 seconds; L drill: 6.95 seconds MICHAL MENET RECAP Menet only performed the bench press and did not partake in any other ac- tivities. He was the only player not made available for comment after the event. RESULTS Bench: 26 reps at 225 pounds WILL FRIES RECAP Hoping to get on the draft radar of NFL teams, the versatile offensive lineman had a positive day. Fries called his participation "a dream in progress" as he looks to get to the next level. "It's something you think about when you're a little kid," he said. "Going through high school, going through col- lege, and now you're here living what you've always thought about – I'm just trying to enjoy the process." RESULTS Bench: 24 reps at 225 pounds; vertical leap: 31.0 inches; broad jump: 9 feet, 7 inches; 40: 5.33 seconds; pro drill: 5.53 seconds; L drill: 7.77 seconds LAMONT WADE RECAP Wade was the only draft candi- date working out at Pro Day who did not receive an invitation to the NFL Com- bine. Still, he said it was good to get back out on the field with some of his college teammates amid what he called a "crazy" draft process. Wade said he views himself more as a cornerback or slot guy in the NFL and is hoping that pro teams will take notice of the versatility he offers. RESULTS Bench: 16 reps at 225 pounds; vertical leap: 35.5 inches; broad jump: 9 feet, 10 inches; 40: 4.47 seconds; pro drill: 4.34 seconds; L drill: 7.14 seconds ■ If Micah Parsons could have taken back his decision last August to opt out of Penn State's season, he likely would have. But by the time the Big Ten announced plans to play a fall season, there was no turning back. Fresh off his Pro Day performance at Holuba Hall last month, the All- America linebacker discussed his initial decision to forgo the rest of his college career, and maybe more im- portant, the fac- tors that prevented his return. "Honestly, I did want to come back," Parsons said. "But my family de- cided that it was already too late and I was already training" for the draft. The result was that Parsons missed his opportunity to finish his college career in the abbreviated 2020 season that the Big Ten presidents approved in September. Instead, he focused on training for his NFL career. At Pro Day, Parsons showed that he had put that time to good use. The 246-pound linebacker turned in a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, a 126- inch broad jump, a 6.89-second three-cone drill and a 34-inch verti- cal leap, and he also performed 19 reps on the 225-pound bench press. With the performance, Parsons put to an end the biggest part of a process that will likely end with him being chosen with one of the top picks in the first round of the draft. "This is a big relief. I finally get to go home and be with my son and my family," Parsons said. "To finally get the weight of this day I've been pray- ing for... it's finally like a lift off of my shoulders and now I can just fi- nally relax and look forward to this draft coming up. I'm excited, man. It's an unbelievable feeling." Offsetting that enthusiasm was the unmistakable air of what might have been back at Penn State. During his training last fall, Parsons kept in close contact with teammate and best friend Jesse Luketa, as well as defensive end Jayson Oweh. He said watching the Nittany Lions' 0-5 start was difficult to swallow but added that he's optimistic about the team's potential going forward, predicting that the Lions "will have a much bet- ter year" in 2021. Defensive coordinator Brent Pry told the Big Ten Network during its Pro Day broadcast that he had ex- pected Parsons to take another major leap forward in 2020, just as he had done as a sophomore the year before. "The development from year one to year two was fantastic, and I know from two to three, we would have gotten the same result," Pry said. "There's a big upside there. He's a super talent obviously, but he's got a good work ethic, great instincts." Parsons said that the NFL fran- chises with whom he's spoken have told him that he projects as a line- backer at the next level, but there are a lot of roles he could fill within that position group. "I just feel like I'm the most versa- tile player in this class," he said, "so I can play middle linebacker, I could play outside, and I can pass rush. I don't think there's a place I can't play in a linebacker spot." ■ Parsons: 'I can just finally relax and look forward to this draft' PARSONS |

• Cover