The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year is almost assuredly going to be Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.
The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year very well may be Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (unless New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones wins it).
What do Parsons and Chase have in common, besides having brilliant first seasons?
Neither played college football in what should have been their junior seasons. Citing COVID-19, both Parsons and Chase sat out the 2020 college seasons at Penn State and LSU, respectively.
Instead they turned to individual training and took extra time to prepare for the NFL draft process and eventually their professional careers.