After a week’s worth of speculation and rumor, the first Nittany Lion has jumped from the listing Penn State ship.
In a press release, North Carolina State announced that safety Tim Buckley has transferred from the Nittany Lions to the Wolfpack Because of the NCAA sanctions, Buckley will be eligible to play immediately in 2012.
Buckley played his high school football in the state, so the move is a homecoming for the defensive back.
“I am excited to be a member of the NC State Wolfpack,” said Buckley in a statement. “The opportunity to come here and play at my state university, so close to home, was something that I couldn’t pass up.”
Buckley, a two-star member of PSU’s 2011 recruiting class, took a redshirt as a true freshman last season. He will have four years of eligibility remaining.
In addition to Buckley, running back Silas Redd is expected to announce at some point this week -- perhaps as early as Tuesday -- that he will be transferring to USC. Suffice to say, the loss of Redd would have a much bigger impact than Buckley’s departure.