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How many former Penn State players have won Rookie of the Year? Date changed for Lions opener: Newsstand

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel02/11/22GregPickel
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A general view of the Penn State Blue Band during pregame ceremonies prior to Penn State-Villanova. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Penn State fans, you’ve made it to Friday.

We’ll help you get through this final workday (we hope) with the latest Nittany Lions news and notes.

The newsstand for Feb. 11 includes updates on Micah Parsons, when head coach James Franklin’s team will first take the field in 2022, and much more.

Here are the top tweets and headlines about Penn State and college football on Feb. 11.

Penn State tweets of the day

We start with Micah Parsons.

The former Penn State All-American is now the NFL defensive rookie of the year. Currently a Dallas Cowboy, Parsons was picked for the award during the ‘NFL Honors’ show on Thursday night.

“Thank you to Cowboys nation,” Parsons said on stage. “Ya’ll really believed in me, ya’ll drafted me. I couldn’t be any more thankful.

“I’m always big where I come from, so shout out to Harrisburg, Pa. man. This is for the city, this is for all the kids back in the ‘Burg, this is hope that we can all do it one day. And I hope ya’ll just keep following. Thank you guys.”

Here’s some trivia for your Friday: Parsons is the fourth Penn State alum to be named NFL rookie of the year. The other three are Saquon Barkley, Franco Harris, and Shane Conlan.

Parsons had 13 sacks and 20 tackles for loss as a rookie. He immediately became a difference-maker in Dallas and is now being recognized for it.

In other news, Penn State’s opener at Purdue is now set for a new date. The Lions, Purdue, and Big Ten conference announced on Thursday that the two schools would meet on Thur., Sept. 1 instead of Sat., Sept. 3.

A kickoff time has not yet been announced for the class in West Layfayette, Ind.

Headlines of the day

Super Bowl a first for Nittany Lion pair: Hayes, CNHI

New Penn State receiver target talks Lions visit that led to offer: Pickel, BWI

Micah Parsons shouts out Harrisburg after winning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in unanimous vote: Gallen, PennLive

On Nick Scott, Saquon Barkley, and a Winding Road to the Super Bowl: Wogenrich, SI

Micah Parsons named NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year: Bauer, BWI

Season Opener Against Purdue Moved to Thursday, Sept. 1: Jones, Statecollege.com

Penn State positional outlook: Breaking down the long-term picture at tight end: Eckert, BWI

Penn State football holding open walk-on tryouts, starting Feb. 15: Engle, Daily Collegian

Penn State assistant coaches name new round of winter workout standouts: Bauer, BWI

Quote of the day

“We plan on him being an excellent player here for a long time and I thought just to kick it off in that fashion for him has been a remarkable start to it.

“He’s hungry for it, which is nice because not everybody can handle that kind of versatility and not only at any part of your career, but especially as a rookie. So I definitely tip my hat to him.”

–Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn on linebacker and now NFL DROY Micah Parsons.