How Micah Parsons almost (not quite) joined PSU's wrestling team
Micah Parsons has a future desire to be more than a linebacker at Penn State. He also wants to play defensive end, running back – and join the wrestling team. Could he do it?
It was just a few years ago when current starting middle linebacker Jan Johnson joined the wrestling team to serve as a stop-gap heavyweight. So when the possibility arose that another Penn State LB wanted a tryout, it perked some ears. That it was five-star freshman Micah Parsons made you look twice.
James Franklin first mentioned the idea at his press conference a week ago. Then on Tuesday during his media day, wrestling coach Cael Sanderson recalled a conversation with Parsons that took place over the summer about it. He remembers looking at his phone at the time to find a missed call from Parsons. Sanderson had previously met Parsons during his recruiting process and when he first arrived on campus. So when he texted back to see if it was a pocket dial, Parsons called again right away.
“He was like, ‘Coach, I’m ready. I want to come out for the team,’ ” Sanderson said. “I’m like, ‘You need to go talk to Coach Franklin about that. You’re a five-star recruit. I don’t think he wants you to be wrestling.’
“He said, ‘I’ve got Coach Franklin right here. He’s sitting next to me. You’re on speaker phone.’”
That was the end of any talks until it was brought up again in these recent media settings.
Listed at 240 pounds on the football roster, Parsons’ hypothetical weight class would be 285. Whether or not he’d be overmatched in the Big Ten, easily the most superior conference in college wrestling, is besides the point. The returning national champion Nittany Lions have two formidable heavyweights who have been around the program for a long time, including All-American senior Nick Nevills. And there are 285-pounders in the pipeline. The depth there makes for a slim likelihood that the Harrisburg native will ever shed the pads to wear a PSU singlet. The time sacrifice simply wouldn't be worthwhile, like it arguably was for Johnson, but for a moment it was at least fun to consider for those involved.
“I know he wrestled through eighth grade and I heard he was a really good wrestler,” Sanderson said. “He’s a phenomenal athlete, [but] I think he likes to joke around and play games. That’s kind of his personality.”
While he’s not competing on a wrestling mat anytime soon, it is possible that Parsons sees his role on the football field evolve over time.
Once considered the best high school defensive end in America, Parsons was moved to linebacker upon his early enrollment at PSU last January. He’s played every game this fall at the Will LB spot and on special teams, accumulating 51 tackles. That total is tied for the team lead with Johnson, although Parsons is on the field less than Koa Farmer, who is the starter at Will LB.
Discovering more ways to get Parsons involved is something the coaches are working toward. Down the road other options are on the table. Franklin said recently that he "doesn’t think there’s any question that Micah could play D-end” and Parsons often asks to play offense, too.
If either are to occur, they will gradually come with time.
“As Micah continues to grow and get more confidence and Brent [Pry] gains more confidence, as well, I think there’s a lot of ways we can use him,” added Franklin. “I think we can use him as a linebacker. I think we can get him into situations from personnel packages where we’re using him to blitz the quarterback and rush the quarterback. So in a lot of ways you’re able to take advantage of all his skills. But that will be a constant conversation over the next number of years here.”
Parsons joining the wrestling team probably will be brought up again as well, no matter how serious.
Because even if it might seem farfetched to some, he is someone who believes he can compete with them all – whether that’s on the mat, at linebacker, defensive end or even with the ball in his hands.
“Micah wants all those things right now,” said Franklin. “I mean, Micah wants to play linebacker, he wants to play running back, and he wants to wrestle for Cael – and he’s not kidding. He talked to Cael about it. He wants to do it all, and he wants to do it all yesterday. It’s just getting Micah to understand: Let’s focus on one thing at a time and get really good at that one thing before we put the next thing on his plate.
“But he’s good. He says it kidding around, but he’s deadly serious. We have a lot of fun with him, but right now, we’re pretty pleased with how he’s handled himself in the classroom and how he’s growing as a linebacker and how he’s embracing all the aspects of our program. But it’s one day at a time. It’s one step at a time.”
One position at a time, and one sport at a time, too.