Penn State Dismisses Senior WR Devon Smith, According To Report

While Penn State has dealt with it's fair share of controversy in the past year, the team can add another notch to their belt as the Nittany Lions have dismissed senior Devon Smith from the team according to a report by Lions247.

Senior wide receiver Devon Smith has been dismissed from the football team seven weeks before training camp is set to start, according to the Penn State football website Lions247.

The report cites multiple unnamed sources, but no reason for the dismissal was given.

Smith was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia back in April, but it's unclear if the dismissal is related to that incident or something else entirely.

Smith caught 56 passes for 795 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons at Penn State but missed much of the spring with a foor injury. He was listed as one of the starting wide receivers on the post-spring depth chart.

For more Nittany Lions football, check out Black Shoe Diaries.

Jack Crawford Says He Doesn't Currently Live In Penn State Apartment Where Drug Paraphernalia Was Seized

Last week it was reported that drug paraphernalia was seized from the home of Penn State wide receiver Devon Smith and former Penn State defensive end Jack Crawford. Now, however, Crawford says there’s an explanation: he didn’t actually live in that apartment anymore. Crawford’s agents:

"Mr. Crawford was assigned one of the rooms in that four person apartment in August 2011 as part of his football scholarship and was given permission by the University to reside in that apartment as he chose. Mr. Crawford lived in that apartment during the fall semester of what was his senior year. That semester ended in December 2011. That same month, Mr. Crawford and his Penn State teammates left for the Ticket City Bowl in Dallas, Texas. From that point forward, Mr. Crawford never again resided at the apartment in question. After the Ticket City Bowl, Mr. Crawford played in college all-star games, attended several camps, participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and was living with family outside of the State of Pennsylvania, where he continues to reside and will remain until after the NFL Draft."

Crawford’s agents go on to deny that the items in question were his, and say he does not use drugs.

Crawford is a potential late-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

For more Nittany Lions football, check out Black Shoe Diaries.

Penn State Football Spring Practice: Bill O'Brien To Model Offense After Patriots, Not Past PSU Offenses

New Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien addressed the media at a press conference on Monday in advance of spring practice. O’Brien is replacing the legendary Joe Paterno, but that won’t stop him from doing things his way.

After spring, O’Brien said his offensive players will watch tape of spring practice, not old PSU offenses of past few years

The Nittany Lions will, instead, study the offense of the New England Patriots, and will run the "core" of that offense, not of previous Penn State offenses. O’Brien worked as offensive coordinator of the Patriots during the 2011 season.

In other Penn State football news, running back Curtis Dukes will not practice with the team this spring. He will focus on academics instead. Dukes had 41 carries for 237 yards in 2011.

O’Brien also noted that there would be an "open competition" at quarterback this season. Penn State’s two main quarterbacks, Matt McGloin and Rob Bolden, are both returning, and there are also rumors that Maryland quarterback Danny O’Brien could transfer as well. Paul Jones could also be in the mix.

Check out Adam Bittner’s series of Penn State football positional previews in advance of spring practice.

Penn State Police Search Home Of Jack Crawford, Devon Smith, Find Drug Paraphernalia, According To Report

What was found in the apartment belonging to Jack Crawford and Devon Smith?