Quick study Parsons shares accolades with ‘LBU’ mates
DALLAS >> Micah Parsons was thrilled when he was named to several AllAmerican first teams in the last several weeks because it was one of his goals when he committed to Penn State.
Parsons, of course, thanked Nittany Lions coach James Franklin for believing in him and defensive coordinator/ linebackers coach Brent Pry for molding him.
He also thanked the two guys who line up next to him: Senior linebackers, Cam Brown and Jan Johnson, the former Gov. Mifflin star.
“You look at two guys who worked every day to get where they are,” Parsons said. “They helped me grow into a harder worker to push these younger guys. I learned how to work and how to study the game from those two. I am forever grateful to them because I wouldn’t be here without them.”
Parsons will play alongside Brown and Johnson one last time when No.
10 Penn State (10-2) takes on No. 17 Memphis (12-1) in the Cotton Bowl Saturday at noon at AT&T Stadium (TV-ESPN; WEEUAM/830).
Even though Parsons never played linebacker until he arrived at Penn State, he’s led the Lions in tackles in both of his seasons. Pro Football Focus rated him as one of the best run tacklers in the country.
That’s a far cry from early last season when he struggled to learn the nuances of playing a new position.
“Yeah, there were a bunch of tough times,” Parsons said, “just knowing how to fit into the defense. You have to figure it out. All the great ones do. You have to figure out a way to get on the field and then to be the best on the field.
“I was going up to Coach Pry’s office almost once a week saying, ‘What can I do to get better? I’m not understanding this key. Can you help me figure it out?’ I was trying to use every way possible to get on the field and show what I can do.”
He’s enjoyed his finest moments in some of Penn State’s biggest games the last two seasons. He made nine tackles in a 17-10 win over Pittsburgh, 14 tackles in a 28-21 victory over Michigan and 10 in a 28-17 loss to Ohio State. He finished last season by making 14 tackles in the Citrus Bowl loss to Kentucky.
Brown and Johnson take personal pride in Parsons’ selection as a consensus All-American because they’ve encouraged and scolded him along the way.
“If anything I’ve said to him helped him, I’m so happy,” Brown said. “He’s a very goal-oriented kid. He wanted that. He talked about it all the time.
“He’s one of those kids who really loves ‘LBU’ and wants to be a part of it. He wants his name etched in its history. That was a big step for him. I’m happy and excited for him.”
Johnson is the master technician who calls the Penn State defense at middle linebacker. He has set an example for Parsons and others with his film study, preparation and knowledge of the game.
“It’s just great to see one of my brothers recognized,” Johnson said about Parsons. “I’ve tried to help him as much as I can in learning the defense, where to be and what to do. He pretty much has it all down now. It’s just him fine-tuning his craft. It’s awesome that he gets to be recognized for how amazing he is at the game.”
When he was confused and frustrated as a freshman last season, Parsons sought the advice of Pry, who told him to watch Johnson.
“I didn’t really know what to do in my first year,” Parsons said. “I was playing off my talent. When you have a leader like Jan and someone who’s always doing the right thing and who knows the system in and out, I watched him every day.
“I learned off him, what calls he makes and what he’s seeing. It made me improve my game so much.”
From Brown, Parsons learned how to improve his work ethic.
“I learned how to push myself more than I have ever done before,” he said. “Cam would say to me, ‘C’mon, man, you know you can do better than that.’ He’s pushed me to the edge. He’s been a terrific leader in the room. He worked his butt off all the time.”
Taking cues from Brown and Johnson, Parsons is becoming a team leader. He seems more responsible and more serious than he was when he arrived at Penn State two years ago.
Johnson expects Parsons to be the best linebacker in the country in 2020.
“I expect the world from him,” Brown said. “I expect him to step up on the field and make plays in more ways than ever. Off the field, I see him growing into a leader. It started already. He wants to be more vocal. The coaches see it, too. That’s where you’re going to see big strides from Micah Parsons next year.”
Parsons wants to give Brown and Johnson one more thing to show his appreciation.
“I’m going to play my best for Cam and Jan (in the Cotton Bowl) to lead them off victoriously,” he said. “I want to get them a fat ring and a win in their last game in a Penn State uniform.”