Micah Parsons welcomes fellow Penn State pass rusher to the Packers

GREEN BAY – Four years ago, shortly after national signing day, Micah Parsons passed the baton at his alma mater.

Parsons was late in his rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys, but his heart was still at Penn State. The Nittany Lions had just inked a top high school pass rusher, continuing a proud tradition at a program known for its pass rushers. Wearing a Cowboys stocking cap, Parsons recorded a 14-second video extending a “warm welcome” to Dani Dennis-Sutton.

Their paths continued to intertwine whenever Parsons returned to his alma mater. As Dennis-Sutton said, “obviously everyone knows who he is.” Parsons’ legend precedes him. “He’s the best in the league,” Dennis-Sutton said. When Parsons was back on campus, Dennis-Sutton was in his ear. In time, Dennis-Sutton forged his own legacy, leading the defense with 8.5 sacks last year.

Neither could have known that short video was to be only the first time Parsons welcomed Dennis-Sutton to his team.

The Green Bay Packers opened their third and final day of the NFL draft by selecting Dennis-Sutton in the fourth round with the 120th overall pick. Within minutes, Parsons posted to his Instagram another warm welcome for his new teammate.

“Welcome to the tundra!!” the post read, before adding that famous Penn State hashtag: #weare.

Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (33) warms up before a 2023 game.

For Dennis-Sutton, it must have felt something like a dream following a bit of a nightmare. Widely considered a potential Day 2 pick by draftniks, it was surprising for him to still be available in the fourth round. Dennis-Sutton profiles like an NFL edge rusher, standing 6-5⅝ and 256 pounds. He ran a 4.63 40 at the scouting combine, including a respectable 1.63-yard split in the first 10 yards.

A fourth-year senior, Dennis-Sutton showed at Penn State he was something more than a workout warrior. He had 23.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss in his college career, including 8.5 in each of his past two seasons. Most significant, Dennis-Sutton showed no drop-off in production after fellow former Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter was drafted third overall a year ago, funneling more attention to him from opposing offensive lines.

Despite a disappointing season for Penn State in 2025, Dennis-Sutton didn’t let the mediocrity of a 7-6 record sidetrack him. In an era when many draft hopefuls skip bowl games to get a jump-start on preparation for the spring, the idea of him missing the Pinstripe Bowl was never a consideration. Dennis-Sutton closed his college career with two sacks in a win against Clemson.

“I love and I need football,” Dennis-Sutton said. “Football for me has always been an outlet. It’s been something for me to always express who I am. Anyone who knows me knows I’m very emotional and an exciting guy. Football for me is a way to express that and have fun. My favorite time of the day is when I’m going out to football practice and playing on Saturdays, which will now be Sundays, and going out there making plays.

“I (eat), I live and I breathe football. It’s something I’ve done since I was a little boy. I’m just excited now to do it for the Green Bay Packers.”

Yeah, he and Parsons will get along just fine.

Dennis-Sutton isn’t the only newcomer dreaming of what life will be like lining up in the same defense as Parsons, though. The most significant portion of this Packers draft has consisted of general manager Brian Gutekunst continuing to build his defense around Parsons.

Gutekunst closed Day 2 by drafting Missouri defensive tackle Chris McClellan, who instantly recognized the opportunity. "That was the first thing I thought about,” McClellan said, “as soon as they hung up the call and I saw it on the screen, 'Man, I get to play with Micah Parsons.'"

In the second round, Gutekunst drafted South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse, whose job will be enmeshed with making Parsons’ life easier. It’s a responsibility the 52nd overall pick knows will be part of his role entering the Packers.

“It’s going to be special for me,” Cisse said, “knowing I have somebody who can get after the passer like that and change games. I look forward to playing with him, and I just know he’s going to help me, and I’m going to help him do everything I can to make the quarterback pat the ball and let him get home. I’m going to do everything in my power to help him, and I know he’s going to help me just as much.”

Each of the Packers' top three picks in this draft can be connected to Parsons on the field, but it’s Dennis-Sutton who goes back to that warm welcome four years ago. He’s followed Parsons’ legacy over the past four seasons at Penn State. Now he’ll be the one to share a meeting room with the three-time All-Pro.

With Parsons returning from a torn ACL, it’ll take time for Dennis-Sutton to join him on the field this fall. But he’ll be in his ear again soon. “I think they’ll be happy together,” Packers director of player personnel John Wojciechowski said. For a young pass rusher, a chance to learn from the NFL’s best is an ideal way to begin a career.

“Obviously Micah is a well-rounded player,” Dennis-Sutton said, “and he’s the best in the league. So any advice that I can get from him and implement my game, have it translate into my game, I will take. I feel like that’s the best way to sort of learn, is to learn from other’s mistakes and things like that, and obviously Micah has had a ton of success. So just getting any type of tips and things like that I can get from him, I’m willing to soak up and learn and just try to be the best.”

This article originally appeared on Packers News: Packers' Micah Parsons welcomes Penn State rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton