Penn State kicker/punter not practicing with team

Kicker/punter Anthony Fera was absent from Penn State's media day on Tuesday and we now have an idea why.

Fera, who punted in all but two games last season, pleaded guilty to two summary offenses on Aug. 4, the day the team opened preseason practice.

Fera was charged with purchasing alcohol by a minor and disorderly conduct in June, the Allentown Morning Call reported Wednesday morning citing court documents. Fera, a redshirt sophomore, was 19 at the time of the incident and has since turned 20. He reportedly paid at least $650 in fines, plus costs.

Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson confirmed on Wednesday that Fera is not practicing with the team at this time.

Multiple media outlets are reporting Fera is expected to return to the team. Fightonstate.com is reporting Fera faces a multiple-game suspension, but does not name its sources.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Cypress, Texas native was listed as Penn State's first-string punter, kicker and holder on the team's preseason depth chart. The only other kicker on the roster is true freshman Sam Ficken, while sophomore Alex Butterworth is the only other listed punter.

Fera, who was born in Philadelphia, averaged 41.4 yards (7^th in the Big Ten) on punts last season. He missed the last two regular season games after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. Butterworth punted in those two contests, averaging only 38.1 yards on 12 attempts.

This is not the first time Fera has been in trouble with the law for an alcohol-related offense. He was cited for purchase/possession of alcohol by a minor in April of 2010.

I think it's safe to say after his latest run-in that Fera has probably found himself a place in coach Joe Paterno's infamous doghouse.

--Jake Kaplan