Penn State Transfers: Silas Redd and Potential Moves Bill O'Brien Must Fear Most

The devastating sanctions slapped down on Penn State's football program on Monday may be the last straw for some mighty Nittany Lions players, who now have the ability to transfer without penalty or having to sit out next season.

First-year head coach Bill O'Brien has his work cut out for him and will now have to do some serious convincing in order to keep his most important prospects on campus.

Here are the potential moves O'Brien must fear the most this summer. 

Silas Redd, RB

The junior running back was the Nittany Lions' leading rusher in 2011, and one of the most productive backs in the Big Ten last season. Redd rushed for 1,241 yards and seven touchdowns on 244 carries in 2011. Redd proved to be a durable option in the Penn State backfield and averaged an impressive 5.1 yards per carry as a sophomore.

ESPN's Joe Schad reported on Tuesday morning that the USC Trojans are interested in Silas Redd. The West Coast program is pursuing the running back and could provide him with a more stable situation next season, as well as a place where he can compete for postseason success. 

Curtis Dukes was the Nittany Lions' third-leading rusher a season ago, carrying the ball 41 times for 237 yards and a single touchdown in 2011. Second-leading rusher Stephfon Green was lost to the NFL this offseason. Dukes, though, is a bigger running back than Redd, but lacks the experience and outright talent that has made Redd so valuable to the program. 

Eugene Lewis, WR

With last season's leading wide receiver Derek Moye gone to the NFL and senior wideout Justin Brown entering 2012 as the Nittany Lions' only significantly experienced wideout, committed recruit Eugene Lewis is critical to Penn State's success next season. Brown was the Nittany Lions' second-leading pass catcher in 2011, racking up 517 yards and two touchdowns on 35 receptions.

Lewis was one of the top five receivers in the state of Pennsylvania coming out of high school and brings great size on the outside for the Lions. At 6'2", Lewis can make plays over the top and with his speed, which will only get better as he develops.

With the potential departure of Silas Redd, O'Brien and Penn State would rely on a steady passing game to lead their offense. Unfortunately, the unprecedented sanctions leveled on the university might push Lewis to transfer elsewhere, where he can play in the bowl games and show off his talent on a brighter stage. 

Steven Bench, QB

A quarterback with prototypical college size and the ability to beat defenses on the ground and through the air, incoming freshman Steven Bench is a huge piece to Bill O'Brien's rebuilding puzzle at Penn State. If Bench transfers to a better situation this summer, then the Nittany Lions will have to put their eggs into another quarterback's basket for the future.

Penn State and Bill O'Brien will be heartbroken to lose such a talent this offseason, especially before even seeing what he could have become under center for the Nittany Lions. Still, with so much uncertainty facing the program, Bench could very well end up choosing a new place to launch his college football career, and who could blame him?

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