Penn State redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Joel Holler is transferring to the University of Delaware, Holler's mother Judy Holler said late last night.

Holler entered Penn State as a highly publicized recruit out of J.P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster, and Holler's mother cited a lack of playing time as Holler's primary reason for departing Penn State.

"We are very excited," Judy Holler said. "We hope he would be more appreciated at Delaware than he was at Penn State."

Joel Holler, at home in Lancaster with his family, was unavailable for comment last night. He was out with a friend, Judy Holler said.

Holler's father, Fred Holler, spoke with Penn State football coach Joe Paterno earlier yesterday, Judy Holler said.

A call to the University of Delaware's sports information office was not returned last night.

Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson also chose not to comment.

As one of the dominant offensive linemen in south central Pennsylvania as
a high school player, the 6-foot-6 lineman was recruited by a number of big-time Division I programs, including Miami (Fla.), Ohio State and Virginia Tech.

After Holler redshirted the 2003 season, he hasn't moved much higher than third on the Nittany Lions' offensive line depth chart.

Paterno addressed Holler's playing status prior to the spring Blue-White Game, stating that Holler needed to lose weight.

Holler came into Penn State weighing 340 pounds. Paterno said he had lost just 10 pounds since coming into the program two years ago.

He is listed at 324 pounds in the 2004 Penn State media guide.

"He is too heavy. We want to get him down to about 305 pounds," Paterno said in his spring press conference. "He has lost about 10 pounds. If he is over 305, he can't play. ... We have been after Holler for two years to get his weight down, and he has lost 10 pounds in two years. Until he gets down, people are going to ask, 'What ever happened to Holler?' "

This is another loss for an offensive line still recovering from the deferred expulsion of center E.Z. Smith through the summer sessions, due to an on-campus incident in the spring.

Collegian staff writer Sean Smyth contributed to this report.