Rob Bolden was given release by Penn State
Former Penn State quarterback Rob Bolden, who visited LSU last weekend as he considers his transfer options, was granted permission to speak to other schools a day before crippling sanctions against the Penn State football program were announced, according to a school spokesman.
In an email Monday, Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson said Bolden received permission to contact other schools on July 22.
One day later, the NCAA hammered Penn State with a $60 million fine, severe scholarship reductions and a four-year postseason ban in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal.
Nelson would not say unequivocally that Bolden has left the program, but only that the junior “is not on the roster at this time.”
However, in another email, Nelson did say any announcement about Bolden’s plans “would come from him or the school he plans to attend.”
Under its sanctions, the NCAA has decided to allow any current Penn State players to transfer and be immediately eligible at any Football Bowl Subdivision school. Typically, transfers from one FBS school to another must sit out one season.
Additionally, the NCAA has said any players transferring from Penn State would not count against their new school’s scholarship total.
Bolden, a 6-foot-3, 214-pound native of Orchard Lake, Mich., has three years left in which to complete his final two seasons of eligibility.
If he does come to LSU, Bolden would bolster the Tigers’ lack of real-game college experience.
Projected starter Zach Mettenberger played in five games last season, but threw just 11 passes. His backups, redshirt freshmen Stephen Rivers and Jerrard Randall, have yet to take a college snap.
For his career at Penn State, Bolden started 16 games and completed 165 of 328 passes for 2,045 yards with seven touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Bolden also had 59 career rushing attempts for a net 27 yards and one touchdown.
LSU players report to campus Wednesday and begin two-a-day practices Thursday.
While Bolden considers his options, Penn State redshirt freshman safety Tim Buckley has transferred to North Carolina State, that school announced Monday.
Meanwhile, Nittany Lions junior running back Silas Redd returned Monday from a visit to Southern California this past weekend, where he is reportedly strongly considering a transfer to play for the Trojans.
Tigers lead CBS team
Four LSU players grabbed five first-team spots on the CBSSports.com Preseason All-America first team released Monday.
The players included junior Tyrann Mathieu at cornerback and punt returner, junior defensive end Sam Montgomery, junior safety Eric Reid and sophomore punter Brad Wing.
Junior defensive end Barkevious Mingo made the second team.