Tracking nine Penn State players who transferred

RB Silas Redd (to Southern California) - As a sophomore in 2011, Redd rushed for 1,241 yards, but the lure of USC head coach Lane Kiffin was too great after the sanctions hit. He shared the No. 1 job in his first season with the Trojans and picked up 905 yards on the ground. He underwent arthroscopic surgery in the spring of 2013 to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. After missing the first five games of the season, he played in only six contests and picked up 376 yards. He signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins and is battling his Penn State predecessor, Evan Royster, for a backup job.

QB Rob Bolden (to LSU) - Bolden was a four-star recruit out of Orchard Park, Mich., and became the first true freshman to start a season opener for the Nittany Lions since Shorty Miller in 1912. But he suffered a concussion midway through the season, allowing Matt McGloin to take over and become No. 1. At LSU, he redshirted in 2012, did not play in 2013 and departed a few months ago. He will play his final season at Eastern Michigan.

WR Justin Brown (to Oklahoma) - Brown was among the last to transfer in 2012, leaving right before the start of preseason camp in his senior season. He moved on to Oklahoma where he caught 73 passes for 879 yards and averaged 13 yards on punt returns. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft. He spent last season on the practice squad and is looking for a full-time roster spot this season.

S Tim Buckley (to North Carolina State) - Buckley redshirted in his freshman season at Penn State before returning to his home area to play with the Wolfpack. After seeing limited playing time in 2012, he participated in 12 games (one start) last season as a sophomore and tied for 10th on the team with 25 tackles.

K Anthony Fera (to Texas) - Born in Philadelphia, Fera spent a portion of his first two seasons in Joe Paterno's doghouse but became the first Nittany Lion since Chris Bahr in 1975 to handle punts, kickoffs and placekicks. He said the main reason for transferring to Texas was to be closer to his mother, who was suffering from multiple sclerosis. He made 20 of 22 field-goal attempts last season and was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award. He went undrafted by the NFL and has had tryouts with Miami and Tampa Bay but has yet to find a pro job.

LB Khairi Fortt (to California) - Fortt impressed Penn State coaches with 33 tackles as a sophomore in 2011 and appeared to be a candidate for a starting job the next year. But he departed before camp and, after redshirting that season, came into his own last year when he led the Golden Bears in tackles after nine games and became a semifinalist for the Butkus Award. He missed the last three games with an injury and declared for the draft. New Orleans selected him in the fourth round.

TE Kevin Haplea (to Florida State) - Haplea showed promise when he played every game as a freshman in 2010 but then caught only three passes the following season. He joined the Seminoles and played mostly in 2012 on special teams and when the team went to a two-tight end set. After redshirting last year with a torn ACL, he figures to be the backup for all-American candidate Nick O'Leary.

OL Ryan Nowicki (to Illinois) - Nowicki proved to be the only taker when Illinois coach Tim Beckman and his staff flew to State College in a controversial move to recruit Penn State players after the sanctions were announced. He never played a single snap for the Fighting Illini in 2012 and wound up moving on to FCS school Northern Arizona in his home state. Although he played in six games last season, the Lumberjacks did not mention him in their 2014 preseason preview.

DL Jamil Pollard (to Rutgers) - Pollard, who helped lead West Deptford High to the 2011 Group 2 title, signed a letter of intent to join Penn State's freshman class of 2012 and enrolled at summer school before leaving before training camp. He redshirted his first season and did not play last season because of an unspecified "career-ending" injury. However, he returned last spring and has been moved to guard.