Penn State tight end Dakota Royer has announced he’s leaving the Nittany Lions football program, the 10th scholarship player to leave since the NCAA sanctioned the university in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
While he’s leaving the football team, Royer isn’t actually going anywhere. Rather than transferring, he’ll remain a student at Penn State and earn his degree next spring.
As part of the NCAA’s decision, the organization will waive transfer restrictions on current Penn State players and recruits. So far, nine roster players have taken advantage of the opportunity to play for a school not facing a postseason ban, and five recruits have decommitted.
A less-publicized piece of the NCAA ruling will allow Royer to stay at Penn State while still receiving the same financial aid he would get with a football scholarship. The organization stated that “any football student-athlete who wants to remain at the University may retain his athletic grant-in-aid, as long as he meets and maintains applicable academic requirements, regardless of whether he competes on the football team.”
While others have transferred to advance their own football careers and NFL prospects, it’s refreshing to see Royer emphasizing the “student” side of “student-athlete.” He expects to graduate in May after just three years.
In a statement, Royer said:
“Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, it is with great regret that I feel it necessary to remove myself from the team. I want to thank my teammates for their support and camaraderie, as well as Coach O’Brien and his staff for the opportunity. I will exercise my rights from the NCAA and continue my education at Penn State, and plan to graduate in May. My best wishes go out to the team for a very successful football season.”
Royer, a top-20 recruit at linebacker in 2010, was switched to tight end by new coach Bill O’Brien this offseason. He was the third “F” tight end on the depth chart at the end of spring workouts, but likely would’ve moved up a spot to compete with sophomore Kyle Carter after Kevin Haplea transferred to Florida State.
Neither Haplea nor Royer were the Nittany Lions’ top options at tight end, and while their departures won’t have a significant impact on the starting lineup, it gives the remaining players on the roster more of chance to earn playing time in 2012.
