Penn State Football Dismisses Senior Da’Quan Davis From Team

Penn State football coach James Franklin has dismissed senior cornerback Da’Quan Davis from the team.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Franklin dismissed Davis from the Penn State football team for unspecified reasons. Davis, who played every game on both defense and special teams in his freshman season in 2012 under former Penn State football coach Bill O’Brien, saw his role diminish the next two years under current coach Franklin. Davis played seven games as a sophomore on special teams, collecting five tackles, and only six games his junior year, with three tackles.

“Da’Quan is no longer with the team,” Franklin said. “I keep my comments pretty limited on those things, but we wish him the best, but yeah, he’s no longer with the program. That’s also why we don’t necessarily release things if we don’t have to because I want him to be able to focus on graduating and finishing up his academics.”

Davis is the second scholarship cornerback that the Penn State football program has lost this offseason. Cornerback Kasey Gaines, who was with Penn State for two years but never played, abandoned his scholarship and left the Penn State football team, but will complete his spring semester before deciding if and where to transfer.

Franklin should feel okay with the situation, though. Come August, four-star cornerbacks John Reid and Garrett Taylor will join the Penn State football team as freshmen to compete immediately for starting jobs.

The Daily Collegian is reporting that though there was no official reason given for Davis’ departure, a possible reason could be Davis’ arrest on May 9 for marijuana possession with intent to use and not sell, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, and purchasing alcohol as a minor. Court documents indicate that Davis, the 5-foot 11-inch, 170 pound senior, has a hearing set for June 24.

Davis, who turns 21 on June 17, was arrested by campus police in State College, Pennsylvania on May 9.

The Penn State football team may still need some help in their defensive backfield. Though Reid and Taylor are coming in, current cornerback Jordan Lucas is being moved to safety. Remaining cornerbacks are senior Trevor Williams, along with sophomores Grant Haley and Christian Campbell.

Davis was expected to play almost exclusively on special teams in 2015 for Penn State football. Davis could not be reached for comment. Davis remains enrolled at Penn State.

Penn State football begins its 2015 season travelling to Philadelphia to face the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field on September 5. The Nittany Lions return home one week later to host the University of Buffalo.

[Image courtesy of Joe Hermitt, the Patriot-News]