The embattled Penn State program has lost another player, and an All-Big Ten performer at that.
Anthony Fera, the first player in more than three decade to start at both punter and place kicker for the Nittany Lions, has committed to transfer to the University of Texas, becoming the latest departure from Penn State since last week's NCAA sanctions.
The news was reported by ESPN college football insider Joe Schad, who posted Thursday morning to his Twitter account (@schadjoe), "Penn State K Anthony Fera has committed to transfer to Texas."
Fera had been the subject of transfer rumors for more than a week, and visited the UT campus in Austin last weekend while he was home in Cypress, Texas. The Longhorns are young at both kicker and punter, with graduate student transfer Alex King (formerly of Duke) as the most experienced player.
The Longhorn kicking corps will get a big boost with the arrival of Fera, who was named an All-Big Ten First Team selection by ESPN and a second team pick by the conference coaches and media. He also connected on 14 of his 17 field goal attempts and all 20 extra-point attempts.
Under the terms of the NCAA's sanctions against Penn State - which include a four-year bowl ban and loss of scholarships - Fera will have immediate eligibility at Texas. The Longhorns went 8-5 last year, culminating in a win over California in the Holiday Bowl.
Fera's two older sisters both graduated from Texas. An uncle and three aunts attended Penn State.
