Could Penn State's Micah Parsons opt back in for this season?

When it comes to All-American linebacker Micah Parsons, Penn State coach James Franklin is like Tom Bodett in those old Motel 6 commercials.

He’ll leave the light on for him.

Parsons announced last month that he was opting out of his junior season at Penn State and would begin to prepare for the 2021 NFL draft, where he would likely be one of the first defensive players taken.

At the time, the Big Ten had postponed its football season indefinitely. On Wednesday, the conference announced its season will begin this fall.

Could that change prompt Parsons to change his mind and return to the Nittany Lions?

“You always keep the door open,” Franklin said Thursday. “There’s obviously a big difference between someone that opted out a week ago and somebody that opted out multiple weeks ago. It just makes it more complicated. It was pretty fun hitting Micah up right after it happened and watching all the fans going crazy. We’ll see how it all plays out.”

The complications Franklin refers to involve players signing with agents, which Parsons reportedly has. In the past, that act ended a player’s NCAA eligibility. Parsons’ eligibility would need to be reinstated for him to return to Penn State.

“I also know that Micah, as well as others, probably wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for the circumstances we’re under,” Franklin said. “I don’t think anybody — the NCAA, the Big Ten, Penn State specifically — can just put this back in, kind of, to the same box that it’s always been in because nothing right now is like it’s always been.

“We’ll see. I’m a positive guy. I’m going to try to see if there’s a way we can work it out to get him back in here if it’s everybody’s best interest, most importantly Micah’s.”

When the Big Ten’s decision to move forward with a football season was announced Wednesday, Penn State fans on social media began to implore Parsons to reverse course. He responded cryptically with an emoji and a gif of Steve Harvey.

The 6-foot-3, 244-pound Parsons led Penn State in tackles during both of his seasons with the team. Last season, he was Big Ten linebacker of the year and a consensus All-American with 109 tackles and five sacks. He had 14 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles in a Cotton Bowl victory over Memphis.