STATE COLLEGE – Defensive end Jameial Lyons and linebacker Kaveion Keys are no longer enrolled at Penn State, an athletic department spokesperson said Saturday.
The news came three days after the university announced Lyons and Keys had been placed on interim suspension to deal with a personal matter.
The 6-5, 251-pound Lyons, who was expected to see significant playing time, was a standout at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia. He played in eight games last season as a freshman and made six tackles, including 2.5 for losses and a sack, and a quarterback hurry.
The 6-2, 230-pound Keys was a standout at Varina High School in Richmond, Va. He played in two games last season.
Lyons was expected to be part of a rotation at defensive end, where the Nittany Lions have been strong for several years.
Dani Dennis-Sutton and Abdul Carter are considered the leading candidates to start there, although Carter also will play linebacker.
The other four ends who are expected to be in the rotation are seniors Amin Vanover and Smith Vilbert and redshirt freshmen Mason Robinson and Joseph Mupoyi.
Vanover played in eight games last season and made six tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry. He played in every game in 2022 and had 16 tackles for 4.5 tackles for loss, two hurries and three pass breakups.
Vilbert enjoyed a memorable performance in the 2022 Outback Bowl loss to Arkansas when he made three sacks. He has played in only one game the last two seasons, missing last year with an injury.
“Amin Vanover is a guy who I think not enough people are talking about,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “I understand why, but a lot of people aren’t talking about Smith Vilbert.
“He’s a guy that we have a lot of confidence in as an organization. He hasn’t played a lot of football, so you guys haven’t seen him the way we have. He’s strong, physical, experienced and mature.”
Robinson, who played at McDonogh School in Maryland, did not see action last year as a freshman. He’s now being counted on to see time.
“We’re going to need him to take a significant step for us,” Franklin said.
Schlaffer adds bulk: Redshirt freshman tight end Joey Schlaffer, a former Exeter standout, looked bigger, stronger and happier Saturday at Penn State Media Day.
The 6-5 Schlaffer enrolled at Penn State in January 2023 at 225 pounds; he’s now listed at 242 pounds.
“I can already tell the difference in practice,” he said. “All my numbers went up a lot in the summer. I’m still maintaining my speed. I definitely feel like more of a force in the run game. I definitely feel more efficient as a blocker.
“My run blocking was nonexistent when I got here. I’m nowhere close to where I need to be, but I’m taking a lot of steps in the right direction.”
Schlaffer is behind veterans Tyler Warren and Khalil Dinkins as he tries to gain playing time after not seeing action last year. Jerry Cross, Andrew Rappleyea and Luke Reynolds are the other scholarship tight ends on the roster.
Return game: New special teams coordinator Justin Lustig said former Gov. Mifflin star Nick Singleton will continue to return kickoffs and Kaden Saunders will get the first crack at being the punt returner.
Singleton, an outstanding running back, has averaged 24.5 yards on 27 returns the last two seasons with one touchdown in 2022 against Rutgers.
Saunders, a wide receiver, began last season as the primary punt returner. He was replaced in midseason by Daequan Hardy after he averaged just 6.1 yards on 14 attempts.
Are you looking forward to showing people what you can do?
“I was a little timid last year,” Saunders said. “I was tiptoeing a lot back there returning the ball. I wasn’t being myself. Now I’m used to people in college running full speed at me. Once I see a seam I just have to trust myself and my God-given abilities to make something happen.”
