Penn State LB Micah Parsons opts out of 2020 season

[Wes21]

I actually agree with this and think more star college players need to consider it.  There is so much uncertainty with the season, just punt it and go get ready for the combine.

https://www.nfl.com/news/penn-state-s-micah-parsons-opts-out-of-2020-season-will-enter-nfl-draft

Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, one of the top players in college football, is opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and intends to enter the 2021 NFL Draft as an underclassman.

"As I considered all my options for a 2020 season, I decided I needed to make a choice -- not for myself, but my son and those dearest to me," Parsons said in the video, which dropped two days after Yahoo Sports reported the linebacker was expected to opt out. "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 outweighed 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."

Following a stellar 2019 season in which he was a consensus All-American, the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and a finalist for the Butkus Award (college football's top LB), Parsons had little to prove to NFL scouts entering what would have been his true junior season. He led the Nittany Lions with 109 tackles, while racking up 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, five passes defensed and four forced fumbles.

At 6-foot-3, 244 pounds (per school measurements), Parsons can play inside or outside and has third-down value as either a pass rusher or coverage player. NFL.com draft analyst and former scout Daniel Jeremiah placed a preliminary grade on Parsons that is higher than any of the three off-ball linebackers selected in the first round of the 2020 draft (Kenneth Murray, Patrick Queen and Jordyn Brooks). Jeremiah compared Parsons to Cowboys Pro Bowler Jaylon Smith.

Uncertainty about player safety due to coronavirus -- and the resulting tenuous nature of a college season that already has seen most non-conference games canceled at the Power Five level -- has created an environment ripe for opt-outs by top players. Parsons is the third high-profile draft prospect to make this move. Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman announced his decision to opt out on Tuesday after a record-breaking 2019 season for the Golden Gophers. Last week, Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley, an All-ACC cornerback, also announced that he's opting out.

[DeSim]

Potential top 5 pick, DE Greg Rousseau from Miami has opted out as well.

[jfra78]

People need to forget about Lawrence and focus on this kid being our first pick next year.

[Wolfcop]

9 minutes ago, jfra78 said:

People need to forget about Lawrence and focus on this kid being our first pick next year.

Why, so he can sit out next year, too? What about the year after that? 

[1of10Charnatives]

21 minutes ago, jfra78 said:

People need to forget about Lawrence and focus on this kid being our first pick next year.

Because having the best off ball linebacker in a draft is a much better idea than having the best quarterback in that draft. From the linebacker spot he can just impact the game so much more than a quarterback can, no matter how good Lawrence might be.

[CRA]

If Fields or Lawrence are there we should take one.   Pending Teddy isn't league MVP. 

[Basbear]

Some agent predicted this, forgot his name. A while he said dont be surprised to see big college names opt out. He said it was the right move and made the most sense for 1st round players.  

[TheSpecialJuan]

1 hour ago, Wes21 said:

I actually agree with this and think more star college players need to consider it.  There is so much uncertainty with the season, just punt it and go get ready for the combine.

https://www.nfl.com/news/penn-state-s-micah-parsons-opts-out-of-2020-season-will-enter-nfl-draft

Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, one of the top players in college football, is opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and intends to enter the 2021 NFL Draft as an underclassman.

"As I considered all my options for a 2020 season, I decided I needed to make a choice -- not for myself, but my son and those dearest to me," Parsons said in the video, which dropped two days after Yahoo Sports reported the linebacker was expected to opt out. "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 outweighed 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."

Following a stellar 2019 season in which he was a consensus All-American, the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and a finalist for the Butkus Award (college football's top LB), Parsons had little to prove to NFL scouts entering what would have been his true junior season. He led the Nittany Lions with 109 tackles, while racking up 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, five passes defensed and four forced fumbles.

At 6-foot-3, 244 pounds (per school measurements), Parsons can play inside or outside and has third-down value as either a pass rusher or coverage player. NFL.com draft analyst and former scout Daniel Jeremiah placed a preliminary grade on Parsons that is higher than any of the three off-ball linebackers selected in the first round of the 2020 draft (Kenneth Murray, Patrick Queen and Jordyn Brooks). Jeremiah compared Parsons to Cowboys Pro Bowler Jaylon Smith.

Uncertainty about player safety due to coronavirus -- and the resulting tenuous nature of a college season that already has seen most non-conference games canceled at the Power Five level -- has created an environment ripe for opt-outs by top players. Parsons is the third high-profile draft prospect to make this move. Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman announced his decision to opt out on Tuesday after a record-breaking 2019 season for the Golden Gophers. Last week, Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley, an All-ACC cornerback, also announced that he's opting out.

who?

[jfra78]

45 minutes ago, 1of10Charnatives said:

Because having the best off ball linebacker in a draft is a much better idea than having the best quarterback in that draft. From the linebacker spot he can just impact the game so much more than a quarterback can, no matter how good Lawrence might be.

Because we wont be picking high enough for him.

[Panthera onca]

1 hour ago, 1of10Charnatives said:

Because having the best off ball linebacker in a draft is a much better idea than having the best quarterback in that draft. From the linebacker spot he can just impact the game so much more than a quarterback can, no matter how good Lawrence might be.

Is this sarcasm? I honestly can’t tell.

 

[mrcompletely11]

50 minutes ago, jfra78 said:

Because we wont be picking high enough for him.

I will take that bet

[Wolfcop]

Call me old fashioned, but I agree with this stance by an FSU player...

Quote

Wilson said he has been comfortable with Florida State's safety procedures throughout voluntary workouts, including routine testing, screening and social distancing. He said new helmets with special protective visors are uncomfortable but that players continue to wear them.

"They're overemphasizing everything, really," Wilson said.

Wilson said that he hasn't had conversations with his family about opting out of the season, as have other potential first-round draft picks, including Penn State's Micah Parsons, Minnesota's Rashod Bateman and Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley.

"Finally getting back to the team and training at the stadium," Wilson said. "I feel like to opt out at this last minute when we've worked so hard, that would be disrespectful [to my teammates]."

FSU football star Marvin Wilson calls sitting out as protest 'the easy way out'

[Panthera onca]

I think these guys are using covid19 as cover. They really don’t want to play so they can avoid injury that would affect their draft status.

[Toomers]

10 minutes ago, Panthera onca said:

I think these guys are using covid19 as cover. They really don’t want to play so they can avoid injury that would affect their draft status.

Of course they are. And if they were my children, it’s exactly what I would advise them to do. Especially this year.