Reserve linebacker Brennan Franklin has left the Nittany Lions football team due to personal reasons, according to a Penn State spokesman.
Arizona Central's Richard Obert first reported Franklin's departure and said he enrolled at Glendale Community College in Arizona. The freshman is from Peoria, Ariz.
Franklin is the second player to leave since the end of the 2012 season and joins tailback Curtis Dukes, who's not yet certain whether he'll transfer or declare for the NFL draft.
The linebacker signed with Penn State on July 26 and made headlines for becoming the first player to join the Nittany Lions after the sanctions. One fan sent him a Facebook message shortly after his commitment, swearing he'd name his first son after him.
Franklin's departure is a surprise -- but not one that really impacts the team. He was one of three linebackers in the Class of 2012, and he appeared to be behind both Nyeem Wartman and Gary Wooten in terms of playing time.
The rising redshirt freshman wasn't expected to see the field next season beyond special teams, and he would have had even more competition for future snaps after PSU garnered commitments from a trio of 2013 linebackers.
