STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The recruitment of Micah Parsons is officially over and the five-star defensive end will play his college ball for Penn State. Parsons made his college choice public during a signing day ceremony in Harrisburg Wednesday morning.
It’s official! Harrisburg’s Micah Parsons has signed with… pic.twitter.com/U6hpt7qWey
— PennLive.com (@PennLive) December 20, 2017
"It's a new start, a new environment and I just can't wait to get started," Parsons said after making his announcement.
Parsons, ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the country per the 247Sports composite, ends a winding and strange recruitment. He initially committed to Penn State, decommitted last April and then seemed torn as his recruitment came down the stretch. Ohio State stopped recruiting the elite prospect after it was reported this week by ESPN that the Buckeyes reported a recruiting violation involving Parsons this past fall and his visit to the College GameDay set in Columbus.
The Harrisburg High School standout defensive end was down to Penn State, Georgia, Oklahoma and Nebraska after Urban Meyer opted to stop recruiting Parsons. The Nittany Lions officially signed 12 players by 9:30 a.m., with plenty more pledges set to roll in as they space them out.
Parsons brings the 2018 class to 21 members. The signing of Parsons is a key one for the Nittany Lions, who still could add a few more prospects in January, including Jayson Oweh.
While Parsons might project as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, the Nittany Lions are getting someone who should be able to help their pass rush woes right away. Harrisburg High School teammate and Penn State freshman defensive lineman Damien Barber is wrapping up his redshirt season and will be looked upon to help Penn State's rush as well. Barber was in the auditorium in Harrisburg for Parsons' announcement.
Athlete Shaquon Anderson-Butts, a Penn State verbal pledge, would be the third Harrisburg Cougar on the roster should he ultimately sign with Penn State. Anderson-Butts does not have a signing scheduled for today which could raise some concerns.
However, landing Parsons is the story of this signing day, a day that otherwise so far hasn't produced any surprises. Parsons was a Penn State favorite and the Lions put on the full-court press to land him officially as they hosted him for a visit two weekends ago and have been on him since early on in the process. While Parsons' verbal pledge as a sophomore was something he eventually regretted as he opted to open things back up last April, keeping one of the best players in the state is a huge boost. Given the Lions' needs in the trenches, Parsons should be a player who can help right away.
Parsons' father is a longtime Penn State fan who said after his son's commitment he was happy to be able to attend all of the games, both at home and in the Big Ten.