Penn State football icon Micah Parsons takes training international with ex-Ohio State QB

Originally posted on Basic Blues Nation | By Matt Thomas | Last updated 5/4/24

By now, the eccentricities of former Penn State football star Micah Parsons are well-known. From his passions for bowling and chess to his love for the Nittany Lions wrestling team, the Dallas Cowboys superstar isn’t afraid to be himself. But Parsons’ latest venture is on a whole new level, even for him. This week, the NFL linebacker flew around the world, sumo training in Tokyo alongside ex-Ohio State and current Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud.

Micah Parsons sumo trains in Japan with CJ Stroud

There’s never been any doubt that Micah Parsons is a physical freak. In his two-year-long Penn State football career, the Harrisburg native posted 191 tackles and 6.5 sacks. That’s been followed by a strong start to his professional career, where he’s made three Pro Bowls, been a two-time NFL first-team All-Pro, and was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021.

Now, the former Penn State football standout is taking his talents to the land of the rising sun. This weekend, pictures went viral showing Micah Parsons sumo training in Tokyo, Japan, with ex-Ohio State and current Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud.

While it’s unclear who came out on top, given that Parsons has nearly 30 pounds on Stroud, the ex-Nittany Lion might be the safe bet.

Micah Parsons and C.J. Stroud sumo training in Tokyo pic.twitter.com/GLw0V7iAqc

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 4, 2024

The workout was part of a series of events that Micah Parsons and CJ Stroud are undertaking in Japan. Later in the day, the duo threw out the first pitch at the Tokyo Giants game.

Micah Parsons and C.J. Stroud throwing the first pitch in Tokyo

…the debate at the end

(via @TokyoGiants) pic.twitter.com/Xg7ChgkTlZ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 4, 2024

Parsons’ special bond with Penn State wrestling four-timer

Maybe Micah Parsons’ interest in sumo wrestling isn’t surprising, given his long-standing interest in all things happening on the mat in Happy Valley. The ex-Nittany Lion has been a prominent supporter of Cael Sanderson and the Penn State wrestling program, even expressing his desire to wrestle for the team.

At the recent U.S. Olympic Team Trials in State College, four-time NCAA Champion and 2024 Olympian Aaron Brooks was asked about Micah Parsons, who was in attendance. The two have a close relationship dating back to adolescence.

“That’s my brother, man,” Brooks said. “I think I was 10 years old, but he came over and stayed at my house for a camp, and then we went to VAC. And he spent the night with my family and stuff for that weekend. So, he’s a cool dude, man; he’s a beast, too.

“Never,” Brooks said when asked if he’s faced off with Parsons on the mat. “But he was just wrestling in the back room; he never stops.”

This article first appeared on Basic Blues Nation and was syndicated with permission.

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