Micah Parsons has been making the rounds in central Pa. before he heads back to Texas and begins gearing up for OTAs with the Dallas Cowboys.
And Thursday he took some time to stop in at his old stomping grounds and surprise the Harrisburg High football team.
“I knew he was coming into town, and I asked him to come up and speak to the kids,” Cougars athletic director and football coach Calvin Everett said.
But, Everett said, he did not tell his team that the former Harrisburg High star was planning on stopping in. Instead, he said, he just told them to be sure they were at workouts because a college coach or two might come by.
“And then he just comes strolling in, and their eyes just lit up,” Everett said. “And he sat there and gave them some very, very important words of wisdom. The kids were immersed in every word that he said, and I think all of the things he talked about will benefit our kids.”
Harrisburg rising senior receiver/running back Kyle Williams Jr. was there for Parsons’ appearance.
“It was really good because we all look up to him,” Williams Jr. said. “And it was really good of him to come by and see us and give us some knowledge on things.”
Williams Jr. said Parsons talked to the group about what they can expect in transitioning from high school to college and shared with them ideas on different things they need to do to be successful.
“He is like a big brother to us,” Williams Jr. said. “So, to see him in person and get to know him and his plan more, it was just great.”
Everett said the experience was “awesome” for his program.
“It’s something our kids will never forget,” he said. “He started off by just asking them if they had any questions for him, and they just rolled in, and he let them know what they wanted to know. And then he told them, you know, that he had the same teachers they had, the same coaches, sat in the same seats and put on the same uniforms. I think some of those those things really, really resonated with our guys.
“I think it will really help our guys in the long run.”