Micah Parsons vs. Pitt: Penn State linebacker brings best yet when needed most

STATE COLLEGE — The linebacker with so much yet to prove seemed to take a significant step on Saturday.

Micah Parsons began the second drive of Penn State's 17-10 save in Beaver Stadium by meeting a Pitt runner in the backfield.

Six plays later he knocked down a pass that forced the Panthers to punt.

The former Harrisburg High star made his presence known in a different kind of way in Saturday's 100th meeting between the rivals. He made more impact plays than ever before in his short but highly-anticipated career.

He smiled when asked about it afterward. He said he expects such a performance and vows not to be satisfied moving forward.

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He finished with a team-best nine tackles (seven solo) with two tackles for loss and that pass breakup. He also nearly sacked Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett another time, but helping force a key incompletion will have to do for now.

This was the kind of day envisioned when the 5-star recruit picked Penn State in December 2017 over all the big names in the country.

And it turned out the Lions needed every bit of his effort to hold off the Panthers in the end.

The visitors had the chance to score the tying touchdown with less than five minutes remaining. But they were stopped three times from the 1 yard line — then inexplicably elected to kick a short field goal.

They missed that, too, banging it off the upright.

Parsons said he was surprised they didn't go for the tie.

"It's always a great opportunity to take a chance. You have nothing to lose," he said. "If you don't get it on the 1, we’re backed up (on offense).

"It's just situational and different thoughts from different people." 

Parsons is now second on the team with 20 tackles through three games. He leads everyone with four TFLs.

"I still think there's a learning curve for him," coach James Franklin said after last Wednesday's practice. "I still think there's a lot of growth for him. But I see him making progress.

"I think he's just going to continue to get better as the season goes on — play with more and more confidence. He's improved dramatically, but I still think there's a lot left in the tank.

"It's little things like his stance and start, which I know probably doesn't seem like a big deal — but it used to be awful," Franklin said. "He's in a much better football position now, which allows him to be more efficient with all the things that he does. It's all the little things."

Linebacker Cam Brown and safety Garrett Taylor followed Parsons with seven tackles each against Pitt. Cornberback Tariq Castro-Fields owned another stellar day of open-field tackling, making five stops, with one behind scrimmage.