It’s undeniable the extraordinary impact Micah Parsons has had on the Dallas Cowboys this season. The second-year linebacker is a legitimate candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year and possibly even has a case for the NFL MVP award.
Through eight games, the 22-year-old Parsons has been the biggest difference-maker on the league’s top defense. He’s racked up 8.0 sacks, 14 QB hits, nine tackles for loss, two pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery for a defensive touchdown.
One of the biggest advantages the young defender has over the rest of the NFL is his elite speed. Yet, it was recently revealed that Parsons might not even be the fastest linebacker on the Cowboys roster (during an NFL game, at least). That honor apparently belongs to a rookie.
Former LSU linebacker Damone Clark, who was a late-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft by Dallas, recently made his debut for the Cowboys against the Chicago Bears in Week Eight. That following him having spinal fusion surgery in March to repair a herniated disk, an injury that saw his draft stock plummet from a possible first-round selection all the way down to a fifth-round pick (176th overall).
According to Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, Clark was clocked with the highest mile per hour speed in the team’s recent win over the Bears. Here’s what McCarthy said when asked about Clark’s NFL debut …
“Looked good. [Damone Clark] had the highest mile per hour score. Over 22 miles per hour which I think shows you his ability. But it was good for him … We thought he did a lot of good things. It was really good for him to get that experience.”
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy on Damone Clark’s NFL debut
Even Parsons himself admitted he needed to catch up to Clark. Although he claimed he recently hit the 25 miles per hour mark in practice.
Clark running at a high of 22.19 mph would make him faster than any of the ball-carriers in an NFL game so far this season. And again, that’s not defenders. That’s offensive ball-carriers including Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Walker has the fastest clocked time this season of any ball-carriers with a high of 22.09 mph in Week Seven.
During his Penn State Pro Day in 2021, Parsons reportedly ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. Earlier this year, Clark clocked in with an official 4.57 in the forty himself at the NFL Scouting Combine. Although his translated in-game speed appears to be much faster.
To think the Dallas Cowboys have two linebackers capable of running this fast is mind-blowing. And that the Cowboys have fielded the NFL’s top defense without the services of Damone Clark for most of the season should make Dallas fans everywhere excited about the possibilities of what this team can accomplish in the second half of the season.
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