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Penn State Holding Open Tryouts For Walk-Ons

The Penn State Nittany Lions are turning to their student body while hoping to find potential walk-ons via open tryouts.

Aug 6, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Bill O'Brien looks on during practice at the Lasch Football Building practice fields. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 6, 2012; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Bill O'Brien looks on during practice at the Lasch Football Building practice fields. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-US PRESSWIRE

The Penn State Nittany Lions will hold open tryouts for the student body Wednesday as they search for potential walk-ons.

Penn State might have been hit with scholarship restrictions as a part of sanctions surrounding the Jerry Sandusky scandal, but that doesn't limit their options for non-scholarship players - walk-ons, or "run-ons", in coach Bill O'Brien's parlance. They probably won't be looking for starters, the team hopes to add a few players at cornerback and safety:

In particular, O'Brien said he'd like to test some defensive backs, since the team has depth issues at those positions. Otherwise, O'Brien said he's looking for "good football players" who are "hungry" and willing to help.

The team expects between 50 and 100 potential players to show up. This isn't a complete desperation move, as the squad is likely hoping for little more than depth and practice players at positions that might have been depleted by transfers, but it's a little bit of a strange move three weeks into the season.

For more on Penn State, head over to Black Shoe Diaries and continue to read SB Nation Pittsburgh.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.