Week 1 Rookie Matchup: Micah Parsons vs. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Micah Parsons, LB

School: Penn State
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 246 lbs

The Dallas Cowboys had the 10th overall pick in the draft but traded down to the 12th pick because some of their targeted players were drafted before the original selection. Fans know how bad the Dallas defense was last year, so it was no secrete the front office had hoped to land a top-flight defender.

The Cowboys were looking to draft either cornerback Jaycee Horn of South Carolina or Patrick Surtain of Alabama. Both were taken before Dallas by the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos, respectively. That’s when Micah Parsons, the linebacker from Penn State, fell in the lap of Jerry Jones.

Preseason Game Study: Dallas vs. Pittsburgh, Dallas vs. Houston

There was an instant tone set with Parsons on the field from the first snap of the preseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was running sideline to sideline and had a fumble recovery on the opening drive. Getting a turnover was a welcomed sight for the defense.

Parsons showed instincts by recovering the ball once it hit the ground. Those are the traits defensive coordinator Dan Quinn hopes to see in the regular season.

In this extended breakdown by the great Brian Baldinger, an analyst for NFL Network, he talks about Parsons lining up all over the field against the Texans. In the video, you can see him line up over the center and beat a double team chasing down Tyrod Taylor forcing an early throw.

Linebacker Devin White plays a similar role for the Bucs, and Parsons will be positioned all over the field. With his athleticism and knack for being around the ball, he’s sure to make an immediate impact on defense come Thursday night. Parsons finished the preseason with nine tackles in three games.