LB Micah Parsons 1st team for Penn State ... at kick returner

Micah Parsons was Penn State’s first-team kick returner for less than a day, but the All-American defender from Harrisburg still is hoping to have the ball in his hands during the 2020 season.

Those who have followed the linebacker’s time with the Nittany Lions have noted his rise to one of the nation’s best defenders, but there’s always been a — sometimes quiet, and sometimes not — reminder that he’d love to maybe return kicks or receive a carry or two.

So far, it hasn’t happened as coach James Franklin has said he wanted to gradually increase Parsons’ responsibilities. It appeared that time had come Saturday, when the team released an updated depth chart, even if there was no spring practice because of the coronavirus pandemic, with Parsons’ name atop the kick returner line.

Within hours, however, a new position grid was released, and it listed Parsons as the “off-returner,” or, in other words, just being a blocker on the kickoff team.

“Just like that… my career was short lived,” Parsons wrote on Twitter.

Just like that... my career was short lived???? https://t.co/e6mQDRUkhn

— BLESSEDMVP (@Micah_Parsons11) April 18, 2020

“I’m just mad the coaching staff couldn’t even give me a full day ! Listen I see the ones that support me! Keep the hope strong!”

I’m just mad the coaching staff couldn’t even give me a full day ??! Listen I see the ones that support me! Keep the hope strong!

— BLESSEDMVP (@Micah_Parsons11) April 18, 2020

It was all in good fun, of course, and Franklin didn’t miss a chance to get in on the action when Parsons shared a clip of his high school ball carrying abilities, writing:

“Ball security, everybody wins if you practice and display BALL SECURITY! The BALL is the PROGRAM!”