Embattled cornerback Derrick Thomas has left the Penn State football team for personal reasons, coach Bill O’Brien announced through a team spokesman Friday.
Thomas, a redshirt junior, had been locked in a position battle with sophomore Adrian Amos for the second starting cornerback spot opposite senior Stephon Morris entering training camp.
Now, it looks like Amos, who was also getting a look a safety in the spring, will get the nod heading into camp, which starts Aug. 6.
Thomas’s departure is the third within a month and the second at cornerback, leaving the secondary even more thin.
He was cited for disorderly conduct following a Feb. 28 fight in State College last year. He also previously had a string of academic issues that kept him in former coach Joe Paterno’s dog house.
O’Brien had said every player would be given a clean slate under his regime, but no specific reason was given for Thomas leaving the program.
Others off the team since O’Brien was named head coach: defensive end Shawn Oakman (discipline), cornerback Curtis Drake (academics) and wide receiver Devon Smith (personal reasons).
Related coverage:
More Altoona
View all Altoona
Suspect in Killing of Health Care CEO Arrested in Altoona
A man arrested in central Pennsylvania on Monday is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week in New York City. Luigi Mangione, 26, was taken into custody by […]
Penn State Athletics Reports Four Positive COVID-19 Results Following Latest Round of Testing
Penn State Athletics reported four COVID-19 positive cases following its latest round of testing the department announced on Wednesday as part of its weekly update.
Penn State Basketball: Ohio State Game Postponed Due To COVID-19 Positives
Penn State men’s basketball’s Wednesday road meeting against Ohio State has been postponed due to an unspecified number of positive COVID-19 cases.
