UNIVERSITY PARK — The first part of Penn State’s weekend included no glitches.
Freshman running back Akeel Lynch, a key piece of the 2012 recruiting class, announced Friday night via Twitter that he will stay at Penn State this season.
“I will be wearing #22 in Blue&White jersey come Sept. 1st #WeStillAre #PennState #Sorryforthewait,” Lynch posted on his Twitter account.
Lynch, who rushed for 2,131 yards at St. Francis (N.Y.) High School last season, is the only scholarship running back in the 2012 recruiting class. Lynch decided to stay at Penn State instead of enrolling at Iowa. He also selected Penn State over Iowa after his senior year of high school.
Lynch wasn’t the only running back to reaffirm his commitment to Penn State on Friday.
Junior running back Curtis Dukes told orangefizz.net, a website that covers Syracuse athletics, in a text message that he’s staying at Penn State this season. The 6-foot-1, 242-pound Dukes rushed for 237 yards on 41 carries in 2011. Dukes missed spring practices for academic reasons, but he has participated in voluntary summer workouts.
Senior wide receiver Justin Brown on Saturday finalized plans to transfer to Oklahoma.
George Kosanovich, who coached Brown at Concord (Del.) High School, said he’s been contacted by Oklahoma about Brown. Kosanovich said he hasn’t spoken with Brown since the day NCAA levied severe sanction against Penn State.
One of the sanctions allows players to transfer without having to sit out a season.
“I’ve just tried not to bother him much,” Kosanovich said. “He didn’t need any advice from me or anything. I just wanted to know what he wanted me to do. At that time, he said I could let them contact him at his number, so that’s what I’ve been doing, giving his cell phone number to coaches who are interested.
“I’ve talked to Oklahoma and a whole bunch of others, too. Probably about six or seven have called.”
Kosanovich said Illinois, Cincinnati and Duke were among the first schools to inquire about Brown, waiting only an hour after the NCAA leveled its penalties against the Nittany Lions to ask about Brown’s availability. Kosanovich said Oklahoma got involved later.
Penn State has lost eight players this week, including 1,200-yard rusher Silas Redd to USC and kicker/punter Anthony Fera to Texas.
Players report to campus Sunday for a meeting. Preseason practices begin Monday.
