Nittany news and notes: Two football players dismissed from team, Franklin lands crucial WR commit, and more

Last week, it was reported that defensive end Jameial Lyons and linebacker Kaveion Keys were on interim suspension to begin fall camp. Then, it was discovered that Lyons and Keys were no longer on the roster or enrolled at Penn State. A team spokesperson confirmed their dismissal and James Franklin did not discuss the situation at team media day on Saturday. 

Both 2023 four-star recruits, Lyons played 95 snaps as a true freshman last season and Keys played just seven and retained his redshirt. Lyons was a possible breakout candidate as a part of the edge rusher rotation behind Dani Dennis-Sutton and Abdul Carter. Keys was in line to split snaps with a young linebacker group that includes fellow 2023 recruit Tony Rojas. 

Penn State is now down two linebackers with the loss of Keys. Redshirt sophomore Keon Wylie suffered a significant injury in Spring practice that will likely keep him out for the season. Those losses could force Carter to move back to linebacker for much of the season. 

James Franklin lands crucial wide receiver commit, Koby Howard

James Franklin and wide receivers coach Marques Hagans have had a tough offseason. The two have struggled to land highly-rated receiver recruits after a season in which Penn State’s pass catchers struggled to make an impact for Drew Allar. 

Jeff Exinor Jr. was an important addition, but the 6-foot-2 220-pound athlete is more of an oversized receiver/tight end hybrid. The Nittany Lions needed more than just Exinor and three-star receiver Lyrick Samuel in the 2025 recruiting class and on Sunday, they got what they needed. 

Koby Howard is a 247Sports composite four-star recruit from Hollywood, Florida and yesterday, he chose Penn State over Ole Miss, Tennessee, Florida State, and Florida. 

More: Nittany Lions bring home Olympic hardware

Former Penn State gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik has become something of an American hero in Paris at the Summer Olympic Games. Nedoroscik, after waiting around all day with his glasses on like Clark Kent, clinched bronze for Team USA with a fantastic pommel horse routine. Then, Nedoroscik did it again a few days later, winning an individual bronze medal on the pommel horse. 

Elsewhere, Joe Kovacs, former Nittany Lion shotputter, won his third career Olympic silver medal. The 35-year-old Kovacs, much more familiar with the Olympic Games than first-timer Nedoroscik, had to come up just as clutch, securing second place behind world record holder Ryan Crouser on his final throw of the competition.