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Big Ten Football 2018 preview: Breakout stars, biggest games, predictions

By Brad Weiss

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 25: Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins waits for the snap during the third quarter of Ohio State's 31-20 win over Michigan during a college football game on November 25, 2017, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Lon Horwedel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 25: Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins waits for the snap during the third quarter of Ohio State's 31-20 win over Michigan during a college football game on November 25, 2017, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI. (Photo by Lon Horwedel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – APRIL 21: Penn State LB Micah Parsons (11) acknowledges the crowd after being introduced before the Spring Football Game on April 21, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – APRIL 21: Penn State LB Micah Parsons (11) acknowledges the crowd after being introduced before the Spring Football Game on April 21, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Freshman of the Year: Penn State LB Micah Parsons

The Penn State Nittany Lions have made a triumphant return back to the top of the college football landscape, which is pretty impressive, considering the program was left for dead after the Jerry Sandusky scandal. It took a lot to turn this program around, and one big reason for it was Saquon Barkley, who burst onto the scene as a freshman in Happy Valley, and never looked back.

With Barkley gone, as he was selected No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, it is time for a new freshman to step up and lead this team over the next few seasons. While Barkley was a running back, the Nittany Lions’ next great freshman will come from the defensive side of the ball, and that man is linebacker Micah Parsons.

Arguably the best defensive player in the country during his high school days, Parsons was recruited by every major school in college football, but being from Harrisburg, PA, he decided to stay close to home. Parsons graduated early from Harrisburg High School so he could enroll in Penn State early, getting a quick start to his college football career.

A defensive end in high school, Parsons is making the move to linebacker this Fall, where he is certain to be a starter for head coach James Franklin. He has had some ups and downs since arriving at Penn State, but has kept his nose clean, and is in for a monster season in year one.

Penn State has to replace a lot of weapons this fall, but they really reloaded with talent this offseason, as Franklin had a terrific recruiting class. There are some special kids coming into the program, but in Parsons, they have someone who could eventually be an early first round pick in a couple of years.