Former Penn State defensive end Torrence Brown is headed to Southern Mississippi for his final year of eligibility.
“I’ve been through so much but I’m a firm believer that God gives the hardest battles to his toughest soldiers,” Brown said on Twitter. “I want to thank Coach Franklin and the Penn State staff once again for the opportunity of a lifetime at a great university where I was able to get my degree and change the direction of my family.”
The news is one of the more unexpected twists to a transfer-filled offseason as Brown announced his retirement from football prior to the start of the 2018 season. He had previously suffered a season-ending knee injury during Penn State’s game against Georgia State in 2017.
In his absence Penn State leaned on defensive ends Shareef Miller and Yetur Gross-Matos during the 2018 campaign. Miller announced his intentions to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft pool the day following Penn State’s loss to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl.
While Brown wasn’t exactly on Penn State fans’ radar entering the offseason, his departure is the latest of several to take place this offseason. The NCAA’s new transfer portal, which allows student athletes to explore their transfer options, has seen nearly a dozen Nittany Lions look into taking their talents elsewhere.
Receivers Juwan Johnson and Brandon Polk and linebacker Jarvis Miller are among those who have announced their plans to leave Happy Valley.
Prior to his injury Brown saw action in 21 games and recorded 52 tackles.
