For the first time since taking over the Penn State football program, Bill O’Brien has been forced to deal with an off-field issue involving one of his players.
And, as it turns out, the new head coach is unafraid to swing a heavy hammer.
The Nittany Lions announced Tuesday that freshman defensive end Shawn Oakman has been dismissed from the football team. The reason, of course, is for violating unspecified team rules.
Oakman was a four-star member of the Nittany Lions’ 2011 recruiting class, rated as the No. 8 player at any position in the state of Pennsylvania. He took a redshirt his true freshman season last year.