A pair of former Penn State football players, Jameial Lyons and Kaveion Keys, are facing felony rape and assault charges following an incident that took place over the summer.
Lyons and Keys, both 19, were dismissed from the program in July. Still, Penn State head coach James Franklin was asked about the serious allegations during a press conference this week. Prior to Franklin meeting with the media, a PSU spokesperson said the coach would not be answering questions pertaining to the case, and when a reporter tried to press him on the matter, the coach walked away.
Franklin eventually returned, but continued to refuse to speak about Lyons and Keys. Now in his 11th season with the Nittany Lions, Franklin has faced heavy criticism for shutting down questions about the two former players, including from NFL Network reported Ian Rapoport.
“Face of the football program. Most recognizable person associated with Penn St. Demands athletes be held accountable. Paid millions, some of it taxpayer money. Yet refuses to stand up and deliver a statement or face important questions from reporters doing their jobs,” Rapoport tweeted Thursday morning.
Keys and Lyons were both members of Penn State’s 2023 recruiting class. As freshmen last year, Keys redshirted while Lyons played in eight games, recording six tackles and one sack.
Penn State is undefeated and ranked No. 3 in the country heading into this Saturday night’s game at 5-2 Wisconsin. Should the Nittany Lions survive that matchup, Beaver Stadium will be a madhouse for the showdown with No. 4 Ohio State on Nov. 2.
Unfortunately for Franklin, as his team’s season unfolds, this story isn’t going away. He will continue to get pressed on the matter, and what he did or didn’t know about the incident in question.
Related: James Franklin Refuses To Answer Questions About Former Players Accused Of Rape