Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1430714
6 4 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Parsons was chosen by the Cowboys with the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft this past April. PHOTO BY JARED WICKERHAM/ESPN IMAGES I f the sack numbers and the tackles and the sheer athleticism don't suffi- ciently hammer home Micah Parsons' status as the NFL's top rookie on the defensive side of the ball, perhaps the betting odds will. Parsons was an odds-on favorite to win the NFL's Rookie of the Year award as of mid-November, listed at minus-150 following yet another out- standing showing in Dallas' 43-3 de- molition of the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10 action. Parsons helped the Cowboys limit quarterback Matt Ryan and the Falcons to just 214 total yards, picking up a strip sack and six tackles along the way. The win helped Dallas get back on track fol- lowing a 30-16 loss to Denver the previ- ous week. "I don't think one game will ever de- fine us," Parsons told reporters after the win over Atlanta. "So the fact that we were able to bounce back and be domi- nant, that should put everybody on no- tice." Parsons has alternated between an edge-rushing role and an inside line- backer spot for the Cowboys, and he has turned up the heat on opposing quar- terbacks of late. He totaled 3.5 sacks against Den- ver and Atlanta, giving him six sacks through the first nine games of his rookie season. "I said it before, and I'll say it again, he can do whatever he wants in this league," Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory said. "We ask a lot from him. He felt he didn't have a good game a couple of games ago, and he's making a lot of progress. We need that if we want to win some more games." FORMER NITTANY LIONS ON NFL ROSTERS As of Nov. 16 Marcus Allen (2014-17), LB, Pittsburgh Steel- ers: Registered his first special teams tackle of the season against Detroit in Week 10. He has yet to appear on defense. Adrian Amos (2011-14), S, Green Bay Packers: It doesn't get much more dominant than the show- ing the Packers' defense produced against Seattle in Week 10. A team held Seattle off the scoreboard for the first time in Russell Wilson's career, and Amos made one of the game's biggest plays, in- tercepting Wilson in the end zone for his second pick of the year. Amos played every one of Green Bay's defensive snaps for the ninth game in a row, and finished with four tackles to move his total to 60 on the season. Troy Apke (2014-17), S, Washington Football Team: Has not played on defense yet this season, but has seen action in nine games on special teams and logged two tackles. Saquon Barkley (2015-17), RB, New York Giants: Hasn't played since Week 5 against Dallas, when he suffered an ankle injury. Prior to getting hurt, he rushed 54 times for 195 yards and two scores, and caught 14 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Bates (2015-18), OL, Buffalo Bills: Played in nine games, starting twice as an extra lineman. Nick Bowers (2015-19), TE, Las Vegas Raiders: Has been on injured reserve since mid-October with a neck injury. Prior to that he appeared in two games with no statistics. Cam Brown (2016-19), LB, New York Giants: Logged three stops in five games. Jason Cabinda (2014-17), FB, Detroit Lions: The former linebacker saw his first carry of the season against Pittsburgh in Week 10, picking up two yards and a first-down conversion in a fourth-and- short situation. Has seen action in eight games, made one start and also hauled in a four-yard reception on the year. Dan Chisena (2015-19), WR, Minnesota Vi- kings: Came up with his first special teams tackle Micah Parsons Enjoying Strong Rookie Season In Dallas DAV I D E C K E RT | DAV I D E C K E R T 9 8 @ G M A I L . C O M PSU IN THE PROS