Penn State's Brent Wilkerson Dismissed From Football Team

James Franklin and the Penn State football team has parted ways with tight end Brent Wilkerson, as the junior has been dismissed due to a violation of team rules.

Wilkerson was charged last month with indecent assault and harassment following an incident with a female student. He was immediately suspended as has not participated in any of the team’s activities, including this month’s Blue-White scrimmage.

The stories provided by Wilkerson and the victim did not contradict one another as he was very forthright about what happened. He took responsibility for his actions didn’t deny any accusations made against him. According to an affidavit of the incident, Wilkerson, after a night of drinking, invited himself into the home of a female who lived in the same complex. The report states that the female was sober at the time of the incident. She told police that he fell asleep on her bed and awoke to Wilkerson pulling her onto him as he wore just underwear and an undershirt.

Wilkerson waived his formal arraignment last week and he’ll next be seen in court in July.

He caught just six passes for 39 yards in 2015 and eight passes for 57 yards and a touchdown in his Nittany Lions career.

Former top-tier recruit Adam Breneman also left the program early, citing health concerns. Junior Mike Gesicki will lead the group of returning tight ends in 2016. Other tight ends on the roster include senior Tom Pancoast, redshirt freshmen Nick Bowers and Jon Holland and true freshman Danny Dalton.

Wilkerson could’ve added much better depth to the position, but if history is any indication, the tight ends won’t be used much in Franklin’s system. The Nittany Lions will have a new offensive coordinator, and it’s unclear how Joe Moorhead will want to use the tight ends in his offense at Penn State.