Penn State’s Micah Parsons named All-Big Ten Linebacker of the Year; 6 Nittany Lions garner honors
Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons made some more history Tuesday night.
The Pennsylvania native was not only named a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection, joining teammate DE Yetur Gross-Matos, he also became the first true sophomore to ever win the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year Award, which has gone to the conference’s top linebacker every year since 2011.
Parsons’ award was announced during the Big Ten Network’s “The B1G Show,” when the all-conference defenses were shown. Parsons was the Nittany Lions’ big winner Tuesday, but he wasn’t the only player to garner accolades.
Gross-Matos was also a unanimous first-team selection at defensive end. Other picks included DE Shaka Toney (second team, coaches), DT Robert Windsor (third team, coaches), LB Cam Brown (third team, coaches) and CB Tariq Castro-Fields (third team, media).
None of the eight previous Butkus-Fitzgerald winners ever won the award more than once. So Parsons could make history yet again next season.
He currently leads the team with 95 tackles, 20 more than runner-up Garrett Taylor (75). The projected first-round 2021 NFL draft pick also has 11 tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
And this is just the start of his 2019 accolades. Parson was named a first-team All-American earlier Tuesday by Pro Football Focus. And he became a Butkus Award finalist last week, the only underclassman to make the final six-player list.
“So blessed and honored!!” Parsons wrote on Tuesday night via Twitter. “This is truly LBU! Thankful for all your support.”
Parsons is the third Nittany Lion to ever win the Butkus-Fitzgerald Award. Michael Mauti was the first in 2012, and Mike Hull was the second in 2014. The sophomore should also find out “on or before Dec. 10” whether he won the national Butkus Award, according to the award’s official website.
The All-Big Ten offensive players will be announced around 5 p.m. Wednesday. The full all-conference defenses are listed below:
All-Big Ten Defense (MEDIA)
| First team | Second team | Third team |
| DL AJ Epenesa (Iowa) | DL Raequan Williams (Michigan State) | DL Oluwole Betiku Jr. (Illinois) |
| DL Kenny Willekes (Michigan State) | DL Carter Coughlin (Minnesota) | DL Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan) |
| DL Chase Young (Ohio State) | DL Joe Gaziano (Northwestern) | DL Kwity Paye (Michigan) |
| DL Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State) | DL George Karlaftis (Purdue) | DL Davon Hamilton (Ohio State) |
| LB Dele Harding (Illinois) | LB Paddy Fisher (Northwestern) | LB Khaleke Hudson (Michigan) |
| LB Micah Parsons (Penn State) | LB Malik Harrison (Ohio State) | LB Josh Uche (Michigan) |
| LB Zack Baun (Wisconsin) | LB Chris Orr (Wisconsin) | LB Joe Bachie (Michigan State) |
| DB Lavert Hill (Michigan) | DB Michael Ojemudia (Iowa) | DB Antoine Brooks (Maryland) |
| DB Antoine Winfield Jr. (Minnesota) | DB Josiah Scott (Michigan State) | DB Josh Metellus (Michigan) |
| DB Jordan Fuller (Ohio State) | DB Lamar Jackson (Nebraska) | DB Shaun Wade (Ohio State) |
| DB Jeff Okudah (Ohio State | DB Damon Arnette (Ohio State) | DB Tariq Castro-Fields (Penn State) |
All-Big Ten Defense (COACHES)
| First team | Second Team | Third team |
| DL AJ Epenesa (Iowa) | DL Kwity Paye (Michigan) | DL Carlo Kemp (Michigan) |
| DL Joe Gaziano (Northwestern) | DL Kenny Willekes (Michigan State) | DL Raequan Williams (Michigan State) |
| DL Chase Young (Ohio State) | DL Carter Coughlin (Minnesota) | DL Khalil Davis (Nebraska) |
| DL Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State) | DL Shaka Toney (Penn State) | DL Davon Hamilton (Ohio State) AND DL Robert Windsor (Penn State) |
| LB Malik Harrison (Ohio State) | LB Khaleke Hudson (Michigan) | LB Dele Harding (Illinois) |
| LB Micah Parsons (Penn State) | LB Josh Uche (Michigan) | LB Paddy Fisher (Northwestern) |
| LB Zack Baun (Wisconsin) | LB Chris Orr (Wisconsin) | LB Cam Brown (Penn State) |
| DB Lavert Hill (Michigan) | DB Geno Stone (Iowa) | DB Sydney Brown (Illinois) |
| DB Antoine Winfield Jr. (Minnesota) | DB Antoine Brooks (Maryland) | DB Michael Ojemudia (Iowa) |
| DB Jordan Fuller (Ohio State) | DB Lamar Jackson (Nebraska) | DB Ambry Thomas (Michigan) |
| DB Jeff Okudah (Ohio State) | DB Damon Arnette (Ohio State) | DB Shaun Wade (Ohio State) |
This story was originally published December 3, 2019 at 5:33 PM.
