Penn State head coach James Franklin addressed the media on Wednesday evening but declined to comment on the rape charges facing two of his former players, Kaveion Keys and Jameial Lyons. Instead, Franklin stepped aside, allowing Greg Kincaid, Penn State’s assistant AD for football communications, to respond. Kincaid referred to the university’s statement, which was read at the start of the press conference: “Regarding the two former Penn State football players, we released a statement yesterday, and our program and athletic department will have no further comment.” When Franklin was pressed for comments, Kincaid repeated the statement, emphasizing there would be no additional remarks.
The university’s statement, issued on Tuesday, acknowledged the serious charges against Keys and Lyons, both of whom are no longer enrolled at the university. The statement emphasized Penn State’s commitment to community safety and its policy to thoroughly investigate reports of sexual assault or misconduct. Both players face multiple felony charges related to a violent sexual crime they allegedly committed in July, while they were still on the team. They were placed on interim suspension in July and subsequently removed from the team roster.
Keys, a linebacker, and Lyons, a defensive end, were both expected to have increased roles in the 2024 season. However, neither has since joined another program. Despite the controversy, Penn State’s football team remains undefeated and ranked in the top five for the first time since 2017. They are set to face Wisconsin on Saturday before returning to face Ohio State on November 2.