We Talkin’ Playoffs Micah Parsons lead the team with tackles as a true freshman in 2018, but he’s looking ahead to much bigger things this season. Parsons feels much more at home in the Penn State defense heading into his sophomore season, and much further along than at this point last year when he was participating in spring ball as an early enrollee. He also likes what he sees around him, making him confident the Nittany Lions are poised to make its first College Football Playoffs appearance by 2020. Speaking of high expectations, Justin Shorter feels he can be the top freshman in the Big Ten this fall.