For one reason or another, roster attrition has hit Penn State particularly hard the past week.
The latest to flee Happy Valley is Akeel Lynch, who announced Wednesday night on Twitter, of course, that he has decided to leave the Nittany Lions and transfer to continue his collegiate playing career elsewhere. Lynch will, though, remain enrolled in school until he graduates this spring.
Because he will be a grad transfer, the running back would be eligible to play immediately in 2016 at another FBS school.
After redshirting as a three-star true freshman in 2012, Lynch ran for 358 yards the following season. A team-leading 678 yards rushing last season set him up to be the bellcow of the Nittany Lions’ running game this past season; however, the emergence of true freshman Saquon Barkley (1,076 yards) relegated Lynch to a secondary role -- his 282 yards were still second on the team -- and helped pave the way for his departure.
As for a potential landing spot, Lynch gave serious consideration to transferring to Iowa when the NCAA handed down sanctions on the football program in 2012, but ultimately decided to remain.
Lynch becomes the fifth Nittany Lion to leave James Franklin‘s program the past three days. Monday, Geno Lewis announced his intent to transfer to Oklahoma. A day later, linebacker Troy Reeder bolted for FCS Delaware. Linebacker Gary Wooten Jr. and reserve cornerback Daquan Worley have also joined the dearly departed in that span.