Penn State Football: Grading Nittany Lions performance vs. Michigan

7 of 10

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – OCTOBER 19: Ronnie Bell #8 of the Michigan Wolverines runs with the ball for a first down during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 19, 2019 at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State defeats Michigan 28-21. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

LINEBACKERS . B. . .

If there was a unit on the defense that played decently in this game, it was the linebackers. Micah Parsons was all over the field and led the team with 14 tackles.

Not only has Micah Parsons continued to establish himself each game as the best defensive player on the team, but he’s certainly made an impression on NFL scouts, although he won’t be draft-eligible until 2021. I wouldn’t be surprised if Parsons is a top-10 pick at that point.

Cam Brown was second on the team in tackles with 10. He also had two QB hurries. Jan Johnson and Ellis Brooks each had two tackles. Johnson also had a QB hurry. Jesse Luketa also had a pass defended.

There’s no doubt that Micah Parsons and Cam Brown had great games, but at least some of the blame for the success of the Michigan offense has to fall on the linebackers unit as a whole. The Penn State defense still allowed 417 yards, a very high number.

Home/Penn State Football