Penn State LB Micah Parsons to opt out of 2020 season

Yet another opt prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft class is opting out of the 2020 college football season.

Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, a potential top-five pick in next year’s draft, is joining the ever-growing list of college football players who won’t be playing this season.

The news was first reported by Eric Edholm of Yahoo! Sports, and was confirmed Thursday by ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

Sources tell me that Penn State LB Micah Parsons is expected to opt out of the 2020 college season and enter the 2021 NFL draft

Should be made official later tonight or early tomorrow.https://t.co/1rBqoccKN3

— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) August 5, 2020

Penn State OLB Michah Parsons, a top five prospect in @MelKiperESPN’s initial 2021 rankings, officially opted out of the college football season and will enter the 2021 NFL Draft, as @Eric_Edholm said he would.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 6, 2020

A five-star, in-state recruit, Parsons is the rare off-ball linebacker who could end up warranting a top-five selection in the draft. Listed at 6-3, 245 pounds, Parsons has a rare combination of size, athleticism and physicality, to go along with impressive instincts and intelligence.

Much like we’ve seen top prospects skip bowl games in recent years to preserve their health for the next level, Parsons is now part of a growing trend of talented players who are opting to start their draft preparations early instead of risking their healthy by playing the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.