The list of players leaving Penn State in the wake of last week's NCAA sanctions continues to grow. This time, though, it won't throw much of a wrench in head coach Bill O'Brien's plans.
Quarterback Rob Bolden - a two-year starter under former head coach Joe Paterno, but the third man on O'Brien's depth chart - will transfer to LSU to continue his college football career under head coach Les Miles, according to multiple reports.
Bolden has been linked to LSU all week, and the move may make the most sense of any transfer for all parties. For Bolden, the move to LSU is a chance to start over after losing the starting job at Penn State. For the Tigers, Bolden brings experience to a quarterback corps that had been led, until recently, by junior Zach Mettenberger, last year's third-stringer. For Penn State, the loss of Bolden helps get rid of a scholarship, as the school has been ordered to reduce its scholarships under the sanctions imposed by the NCAA.
Bolden completed 53 of 135 passes last year for 685 yards and two touchdowns with seven interceptions. In 2010, he was the first true freshman to start under center for Penn State in 100 years, and completed 112 of 193 passes for 1,360 yards and five touchdowns with seven picks. Under the terms of the NCAA's sanctions, Bolden will have immediate eligibility to play at LSU.
With his history of interception troubles, Bolden isn't exactly a perfect solution at quarterback for LSU, but he does fill a need...for everyone. Bolden needed a new home, LSU needed quarterback experience and Penn State needed to lose a scholarship.
Of course, Penn State has already lost a pair of scholarship players in running back Silas Redd and linebacker Kahiri Fortt, and there could certainly be more losses to come. Where this move is concerned, however, it's a win-win-win.
