James Franklin and Several Penn State Players Mentioned in Hazing Incident in Federal Lawsuit
By Will Coleman
Penn State is back in the national headlines for misconduct within its football program.
Less than a decade removed from the dreary Jerry Sandusky sex scandal that scarred Joe Paterno's exit from football, head coach James Franklin and a few key players are facing intense hazing accusations. In 2018, freshman safety Isaiah Humphries transferred from the program for what he is now suing Franklin and an ex-teammate for.
Coach Franklin, several PSU players accused of hazing in just-filed federal lawsuit https://t.co/aflwJJ0SdS
— Pennsylvania Sports (@pasports) January 14, 2020
Humphries claims that he was ridiculed for complaining about the hazing and subsequently forced out of the program. The report also mentions Micah Parsons, Yetur Gross-Matos, Jesse Luketa and Damion Barber as instigators of the toxic culture described by Humphries.
Humphries has since transferred to Cal.
While these are merely allegations at the moment, they are serious charges aimed at Franklin and Co.
Penn State football coach James Franklin and several of his players were accused of either hazing or ignoring reports of hazing in a federal lawsuit filed Monday: https://t.co/59qVunI46e
— Bret Pallotto (@BretPallottoCDT) January 14, 2020
Here's an excerpt. pic.twitter.com/zJdzCxDgCU
Franklin was under fire for a matter at Vanderbilt years ago in which he allegedly contacted a rape victim, however the now-Nittany Lions coach denies any wrongdoing.
Penn State is coming off an 11-2 season, including a Cotton Bowl win over Memphis. Franklin has held the head coaching position in State College since the 2014 offseason.