Penn State’s Micah Parsons shares his reasoning for opting out of college season

Micah Parsons explains his decision to opt-out of the college football season in a message where he thanked Penn State for all it did and meant to him.

Micah Parsons made it official on Thursday, as he’s opting out of 2020 and going pro.

The star linebacker for the Penn State Nittany Lions will forego his final two years of eligibility and will enter the 2021 NFL Draft. He joins Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Fairley, Minnesota receiver Rashod Bateman and Miami defensive lineman Gregory Rousseau as projected first-round picks to opt-out.

While we first learned Parsons planned to opt-out on Tuesday, it wasn’t until Thursday he explained his rationale behind his decision making. He’s going to graduate early in December 2020 and should be a lock to go in the top 10 of the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. Here’s the Instagram video he shared on why he’s deciding to opt-out and end his college football career.

Micah Parsons on why he’s going pro already and opting out of 2020 season.

"“I’d like to begin by saying thank you. “You’ve given me an opportunity of a lifetime to achieve my dreams and aspirations. I have made connections with my teammates that will last a lifetime. For that, I will forever be grateful.”“Nittany Nation took a chance and welcomed a kid from Harrisburg with open arms, stood by me and supported me. Without Coach (James) Franklin and Coach (Brent) Pry, as well as the entire Penn State coaching staff, I would not be where I am today. You all allowed me to grow into the young man I have always wanted to be.”“Before arriving on campus, I was only a kid from Harrisburg with a dream. My dream was to receive a degree from a prestigious institution and prepare for the opportunity to play at the highest level — the NFL. My opportunity has finally arrived.”“As I consider all my options for the 2020 season, I decided I needed to make a choice. Not for myself, but my son and those dearest to me. While I felt safe with the health and safety standards as we returned to Penn State for workouts, the potential risk to the health and well being of my son far outweighs my urge to play football this season.”“Therefore, I decided to opt out of the 2020 season and prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.”“I will be graduating early, and receiving my degree in December. I’ve kept my word to Coach Franklin because leaving Penn State with my degree in hand was my main goal when I stepped on campus. In the end, there is only one LBU, and I thank you.”"

Parsons would have been the presumptive frontrunner to win the Butkus Award as the best linebacker in college football. Surely, he would have added to the rich tradition firmly established at LBU in State College. Penn State also had a terrific opportunity to earn its first berth into the College Football Playoff in school history. For now, the Penn State pass rushers must step up.

Penn State is coming off a New Year’s Six bowl berth season and a victory over the Group of 5 champion Memphis Tigers in the Cotton Bowl Classic. This was a team expected to finish in the top 10 in 2020, but may be knocked down a peg with their best player deciding to turn pro a semester early and chase his NFL dreams. We had a feeling this could happen, but now it has.

Parsons makes the best decision for himself and his son to leave school early and turn pro.

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