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Penn State Football: Transfers Reach 6 as 3 More Announce Intentions to Leave
August 1, 2012
Following the announcement by junior running back Silas Redd, three more players have declared their intentions to leave Penn State.
The Nittany Lions—who had earlier seen safety Tim Buckley leave for North Carolina State and quarterback Rob Bolden opt out in favor of LSU—received news of three more players who have decided to cut ties with the program.
According to a report by Mike Singer of CBSSports.com, tight end Kevin Haplea and linebacker Khairi Fortt, both juniors, have chosen to take advantage of the opportunity to transfer from the Penn State in the wake of the severe sanctions imposed by the NCAA.
Haplea will be heading to Florida State to exercise his two remaining years of eligibility, while Fortt will jump to the University of California.
"This is what's right for me and my family," Fortt told the Stamford Advocate. "It's just unfortunate I have a different route I have to take. This is no disrespect to them or a reflection on Coach O'Brien."
Freshman defensive lineman Jamil Pollard will exercise his right to transfer from Penn State, and will head to Rutgers, according to a report by Tom Luicci of the Star-Ledger [via NJ.com].
While the University, alumni and coaching staff have done their best to maintain the unity of the team and the program at Penn State, the Sandusky scandal and the staggering penalties against the Nittany Lions have also affected recent recruiting classes, as many had feared.
Meanwhile, the watch of the current Nittany Lion roster continues, as Mark Wogenrich's posting in "Nittany Lines" [themorningcall.com] implies that kicker Anthony Fera and receiver Justin Brown may be among the next players to leave the team.