Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is definitely in the discussion for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The No. 12 pick out of Penn State has not missed a beat since he was drafted by the Cowboys.
Parsons is the Defensive Rookie of the Month and has been dominant in his last three games with an astounding 23 pressures.
Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Month! (November)@MacJones_10 | @MicahhParsons11 pic.twitter.com/TYUoKTge09
— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2021
Micah Parsons now has 23 pressures over the last 3 games.
Over the last 5 years, only J.J. Watt (25 in 2019) has had more pressures in a 3-game span within a season. pic.twitter.com/rMRDxXyg2m
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 3, 2021
Rarely does a rookie draft pick become so successful so quickly especially those that come from Penn State.
Parsons, the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native, is a versatile player that uses his speed to get involved in plays even if they are not right in front of him.
Among everything else he has accomplished in his rookie season, Parsons is the first Dallas Cowboy in franchise history to record 10 sacks in his rookie season.
He will likely well exceed that number with five games remaining in the season.
Head coach Mike McCarthy recently put a lofty comparison on Parsons.
McCarthy likened him to a Hall of Fame running back.
Who McCarthy Compared Parsons To
Given his natural and innate ability and the fact that he is so difficult to stop, McCarthy compared Parsons to Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders.
“I’m never surprised because he’s so natural. He’s almost like Barry Sanders in there when he’s avoiding blocks. They can’t get their hands on him.”
Mike McCarthy compared Micah Parsons to the great Barry Sanders as a runner in terms of his ability to avoid blockers.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) December 3, 2021
That is high praise because everyone agrees that Sanders was one of the greatest of all time at his position and one of the most skilled runners who made it look absolutely effortless.
Where Parsons Hopefully Differs From Sanders
Barry Sanders never won a Super Bowl.
In 10 seasons, Sanders only played in six playoff games.
He rushed for 99 touchdowns and over 15,000 yards in his illustrious career.
Sanders was humble and hard working; some view his talent as wasted on a substandard Lions team.
Hopefully, for Parsons and Cowboys fans, he has more playoff experience than Sanders throughout his career including a Super Bowl championship.
He is on an excellent Cowboys team so it is certainly possible.
Parsons Is Humble
Parsons also has the humility and likeability of Sanders.
He wore blue to the 2021 NFL Draft and hoped to become a Dallas Cowboy.
It was a dream he had for many years so he was visibly emotional when it came to fruition at the draft.
“If it’s Dallas, I'm crying.”
Micah Parsons and his family’s reaction to being selected by the Dallas Cowboys is everything 🙌
(via @nflfilms)pic.twitter.com/bZoamCtmC9
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) May 6, 2021
One of the first things he did was buy a house for his family in Dallas because he wanted them to be at his NFL games.
He is not resting on his laurels through the first 12 games of the season.
After the Cowboys defeated the New Orleans Saints in Week 13, Parsons said:
“There’s stuff to be done within those five games. I don’t think it’s time for me to sit on my couch smiling and eating Cheetos just yet. I’m trying to do something way bigger than what anybody else thought we could do this year. That’s what I’m focused on. I’m just doing my job in the process.”
It seems like Parsons is just getting started.
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