STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State's deep crop of young cornerbacks will feature one less player as the program confirmed a Lions247 report that redshirt freshman T.J. Johnson was granted his release and will seek a transfer.
Johnson started to make a name for himself during spring ball when he hauled in an interception, broke up a pass, recorded 1.5 tackles for loss and tallied five tackles in the Blue-White Game. The three-star prospect from Euclid High School in Ohio was expected to compete with a group of corners that features starters Grant Haley and Christian Campbell, reserve Amani Oruwariye and a young crop that includes freshman Lamont Wade, among others.
John Reid, last year's starter, sustained a knee injury during spring ball and could miss the season. Freshman Tariq Castro-Fields impressed during the early portion of camp and could challenge for time this season, James Franklin said earlier this month at media day.
Here's the Lions' cornerback picture without Johnson:
• Grant Haley (Sr.)
• Christian Campbell (Sr.)
• Amani Oruwariye (Redshirt junior)
• John Reid (Jr.)
• Zech McPhearson (Rs. Fr.)
• Desi Davis (Walk on, redshirt junior)
• Donovan Johnson (Fr.)
• Tariq Castro-Fields (Fr.)
• Lamont Wade (Fr.)
• DJ Brown (Fr.)
As one can see from Sunday's team photo day, Johnson was not in the position photo.
2017 Penn State Cornerbacks #PSUDBSWAG These boys ready to get it done. We Are ... Penn State pic.twitter.com/Ypt3pxFmcg
— Terry M. Smith (@CoachTerryPSU) August 21, 2017