Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1454229
7 0 M A R C H 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M M icah Parsons' whirlwind debut season with the Dallas Cowboys ended the only way it could have. In Los Angeles for the NFL Honors ceremony, Parsons nabbed one of the season's top awards. As announced by singer Kelly Clarkson, the former Penn State All-American was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year on Feb. 10. Upon taking the stage to accept the award, Parsons immediately shouted out his Nittany Lion family, with calls of "We Are!" He went on to thank God, his family, the Cowboys organization and his supporters back home in central Pennsylvania. "Shout out to Harrisburg, Pa.," he said. "This is for the city, this is for all the kids back in the 'Burg, this is hope that we can all do it one day. And I hope you all just keep following." The honor capped a massive year for Parsons, who had been drafted 12th overall by Dallas in April. He was the third defensive player taken in the draft, going four spots below South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn and three spots below Alabama cornerback Patrick Sur- tain II. A unanimous choice for the de- fensive rookie award, Parsons beat out Surtain, who had four interceptions for the Denver Broncos. The lopsided nature of the voting re- flected Parsons' dominance on the field in 2021. For the season, he finished with 84 tackles and 13 sacks in 16 games. It was a dazzling year, and not just by rookie standards. Parsons was also one of three finalists for the NFL's Defen- sive Player of the Year. That award ulti- mately to Pittsburgh Steelers defender T.J. Watt, who notched a record 22.5 sacks. The other finalist for that award was Los Angeles Rams defensive line- man Aaron Donald. In a video that the NFL produced for the event, Parsons was described as "an advanced metrics darling." He was Pro Football Focus's highest-rated line- backer and pass rusher, and he also had the best pressure rate of any defender since the advent of next-gen stats. In addition to claiming Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, Parsons was named the Butkus Award winner at the professional level and was a rare first- team NFL All-Pro Defense selection as a rookie. He also was a Pro Bowl selection and had some fun while taking part in the festivities surrounding the game. Parsons beat out Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs, Cleveland Browns run- ning back Nick Chubb and Kansas City Chiefs wideout Tyreek Hill in a foot- race at the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown, claiming the NFL's Fastest Man title. But as the former PSU linebacker ac- knowledged afterward, Hill was coming off an appearance in the AFC title game just a few days earlier. "I know he isn't coming out here and playing his best," Parsons said. "He just played a couple of days ago. He's the fastest man in the league. I'm just happy to be somewhere in the middle. "I do want a 'Madden 95' speed, though." ■ Parsons was a unanimous choice for the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award after finishing his debut pro season with 13 sacks in 16 games. PHOTO BY JAMES D. SMITH/DALLAS COWBOYS Micah Parsons Claims Top Defensive Rookie Honors NAT E BA U E R | N B AU E R @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M PSU IN THE PROS