Penn State football player James McDonald, a rising sophomore wide receiver, said yesterday that he is "on temporary leave" from the team and will return in July.

Penn State Sports Information Director Jeff Nelson confirmed that McDonald is "not a member of the squad at this point" but did not specify any details.

McDonald said coaches did not impose the decision and that "they're backing me."

"They know the reason and I know the reason and I'll be back in July," McDonald said. He would not comment further or specify reasons for the departure.

His high school coach, Craig Jefferies, said he occasionally speaks with McDonald and members of the Penn State coaching staff but couldn't explain the decision. He said he spoke with McDonald two weeks ago and received no indication that he might be leaving.

In fact, Jefferies said McDonald was excited about switching from No. 84 to No. 8, the number he wore at Dunbar High School in Washington D.C.

"I understand he was doing real well," Jefferies said yesterday. "He made a bunch of leaps and strides going up the depth chart."

Jefferies said McDonald told him he understood the offense better this spring and developed his blocking ability.

Jefferies also said Penn State coach Larry Johnson recently told him about McDonald's improvement during practice. Johnson coaches the defensive line but is responsible for recruiting in Maryland.

"He was impressed with the progress [McDonald] made, said this was an important spring for him," Jefferies said. "I guess that was the point where he decided to take a leave of absence"

McDonald played in seven games last season and caught one pass for eight yards. He played in one game in 2005, Penn State's 34-29 win against Northwestern.

He received a lot of scholarship offers as a high school star both on the field and in the classroom, Jefferies said. After Notre Dame fired coach Tyrone Willingham, McDonald decided to come to Penn State, Jefferies said.

"He's pretty much an average kid, a real good kid," Jefferies said. "No discipline problems from him; he had real good character."