Lion place-kicker Hannon calls it quits, will transfer to Villanova

After redshirting his first year as a Nittany Lion, place-kicker Casey Hannon announced he will transfer to Villanova to become the starter.

Freshman Casey Hannon thought he would get a fair shot at becoming Penn State's starting place-kicker last summer, but after a disappointing preseason capped by his being redshirted, Hannon last Tuesday announced his intent to transfer to Villanova.

A highly touted kicker who attended Pingry High School in Martinsville, N.J., Hannon came to Happy Valley last summer hoping to claim that starting position. But it was not the case, as sophomore Travis Forney was given the starting nod before the Sept. 6 season opener against Pittsburgh, and redshirt freshman Ryan Primanti was named his backup.

"Neither of us kicked that great in the preseason...that was tough," said Hannon of being redshirted. "It was weird. I started through all of high school."

Hannon said he had been thinking about transferring throughout the fall, and when Division I-AA Villanova made him a scholarship offer, he could not pass it up. Hannon will be able to compete next fall, as a move from I-A to I-AA does not require a season without participation.

Hannon took an official visit to Villanova the third week in January, and last Monday announced his intention to Lion offensive coordinator Fran Ganter.

Then, last Tuesday, he went to head coach Joe Paterno with a similar speech and signed his letter of intent to Villanova the same day.

"(Paterno) just wished me good luck," Hannon said. "He hoped things would have worked out here. He didn't try to pressure me."

Hannon said his parents and friends supported his position, and that he didn't "want to make a big deal out of it." He also mentioned that despite Paterno saying early in the season the kicking position was never a lock, the positions of Forney, Primanti and Hannon were never flip-flopped.

Primanti said the announcement came as a shock to him. The backup kicker said the team learned the news in a Thursday squad meeting. When attendance was taken and Hannon's name was called out, Primanti said Paterno's reaction gave it away.

"When they said Casey Hannon, Joe said, 'No, he's done,' " Primanti said.

Primanti remembered speaking with Hannon about the possibilities of transferring on several occasions throughout the season. He said Hannon had returned home immediately after the preseason, and many thought he had already decided.

"We thought that he was leaving then," Primanti said. "If I was in his shoes I would have given Penn State a better shot. You never know. Travis (Forney) could have broken his leg next year. I wouldn't have transferred right away."

The 6-foot-1, 182-pound Hannon, who originally chose Penn State over Virginia, Boston College and Syracuse, said the Villanova coaching staff assured him he would handle all kicking duties, including kickoffs and field goals, this upcoming season.

Hannon's father, James Hannon, said he supported Casey's decision and saw the logic behind it.

"He's just decided that this was a good opportunity for him," James said. "The most important thing for him is that he wanted to play right away. He didn't have that opportunity this year."

Paterno confirmed Hannon's departure but said he did not have much to add to the situation.

"I'm sorry to see him go," Paterno said. "He's a good kid."