Penn State Football

See all the reactions as Micah Parsons goes to Cowboys with No. 12 pick of NFL draft

Published

April 29, 2021

Graphic from Dallas Cowboys Twitter

Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, considered by many to be the best defensive player in the draft, was selected with the No. 12 overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL draft Thursday night.

Here’s the must-see video of Parsons being interviewed by Deion Sanders, among others, and his responses are fantastic.

.@MicahhParsons11 is a Cowboy, and this interview is GOLD.

Watch #DraftAThon LIVE: https://t.co/EJLdH3J5CE pic.twitter.com/8whsLVSpNK

— NFL (@NFL) April 30, 2021

🗣 MICAH PARSONS
Welcome to #CowboysNation, @MicahhParsons11!!!!!! #DallasCowboys | #ItsMillerTime pic.twitter.com/riyE8V8npO

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 30, 2021

“This moment is so big. Ya’ll don’t even understand,” Parsons said on ESPN after getting drafted. “My parents were Cowboys fans, and all last year I said I was going to Dallas.

“It’s so unreal. It’s crazy.”

Jerry Jones to Micah Parsons: "You don't think it's too big for you to be a Cowboy, do you?

Parsons: "No, not at all."

Jerry: "Coach Dan Quinn is smiling from ear to ear."

Mike McCarthy: "Linebacker U, you got to keep the tradition going. You're a great fit for us, young man."

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) April 30, 2021

James Franklin and PSU defensive coordinator Brent Pry were on hand at the draft in Cleveland with Parsons. This is what Franklin tweeted out after Parsons was selected:

Penn State graduate, Big Ten Linebacker of the Year, Cotton Bowl MVP, All-American & now first round NFL Draft pick with the @dallascowboys! Dreams do come true! @MicahhParsons11 we are so proud of you! Thanks for the opportunity to coach, teach & mentor you! Always here for you! pic.twitter.com/xkgVacCaTo

— James Franklin (@coachjfranklin) April 30, 2021

🗣️ @CoachJFranklin pic.twitter.com/EtNmrkcyCZ

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) April 30, 2021

The Cowboys just had one of the greatest linebackers ever from Penn State, Sean Lee, retire this week after 11 seasons with the team. Now Dallas is bringing in another PSU linebacker, who just about everyone believes has a chance to be a superstar in the NFL.

Believe it or not, given all the great linebackers that Penn State has had this century, Parsons is the first Nittany Lion linebacker to be selected in the first round of the draft since LaVar Arrington in 2000.

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Parsons was extremely excited, to say the least. Just ask Commissioner Roger Goodell.

MOOD.@MicahhParsons11 pic.twitter.com/0FecfTg45v

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) April 30, 2021

Parsons was considered a top 10 draft pick for a long time, but some analysts believed that off-the-field concerns might cause him to drop some in the draft. That really didn’t happen as he went No. 12 overall.

“No matter what you go through, any trials and tribulations … keep your head up high, keep working, keep striving and believe in God,” Parsons said.

Ironically, the last game Parsons played in was the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium, home of the Cowboys, to end the 2019 seasons. He opted out of the 2020 season.