UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Sophomores Micah Parsons and Pat Freiermuth claimed All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Wednesday.
The native of Harrisburg earned the Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He is the first sophomore to win Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and the third Nittany Lion to claim the award, joining Michael Mauti (2012) and Mike Hull (2014). Parsons was also was a finalist for the Butkus Award for the nation's top linebacker.
Parsons has also claimed All-America honors from Sports Illustrated (first team), Bleacher Report (first team), Pro Football Focus (first team), ESPN, USA Today, Sporting News (second team), Walter Camp (second team), CBS Sports (second team) and The Athletic (second team). He is the 101st first-team All-American in Penn State history and the first Nittany Lion to claim first-team All-America honors since Saquon Barkley in 2017. Parsons is the first sophomore to earn first-team All-America status since LaVar Arrington in 1998.
For the second-straight season, Parsons is leading the Nittany Lions in tackles with 85. He also has 10.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, three pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. Parsons ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 7.7 tackles per game. He has five games with 10 or more tackles this season. He is one of 22 players in FBS and two in the Big Ten (Dele Harding, Illinois) to total at least 80 tackles and 10 tackles for loss this season. He is the first Penn State player to do so since Mike Hull in 2014 and is the seventh Penn Stater to accomplish the feat since 2000.
Freiermuth is the first Penn State tight end to claim All-America honors since Mike Gesicki was a second-team choice in 2017.
The native of Merrimac, Massachusetts claimed All-Big Ten second-team selection by the coaches and media. This is Freiermuth's second all-conference honor after being named honorable mention by the coaches and media in 2018. He is the first Penn State tight end to earn All-Big Ten first or second team honors since Mike Gesicki (first team) in 2017.
Freiermuth has made a catch in 24-straight games, dating back to the Pitt (9/8/18) game. He ranks No. 7 in FBS with seven receiving touchdowns and sits tied for fourth among FBS tight ends with seven touchdown receptions.
The sophomore tight end selected to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week first team following the Minnesota game (11/9). Freiermuth was named John Mackey Award Tight End of the Week following the Michigan State (10/26) and Buffalo (9/7) games. He was also selected to the Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week second team and Big Ten Team of the Week first team following the Michigan State game (10/26) and earned Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week second team honors following the Michigan game (10/19).
The No. 10 Nittany Lions head to the Goodyear Cotton Bowl to face No. 17 Memphis on Dec. 28 at noon on ESPN. For information on Cotton Bowl tickets, visit GoPSUsports.com/bowlcentral.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and reserving new 2020 season tickets, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 9 a.m-4:30 p.m.
