Penn State coach Bill O'Brien announced Friday that redshirt junior cornerback Derrick Thomas has left the team for "personal reasons," according to assistant athletic director for communications Jeff Nelson's Twitter account.
The 6-foot, 181-pound Greenbelt, Md. native played in nine games for Penn State last season and was listed as a starter at the Nittany Lions' right cornerback spot when the team's initial depth chart for the 2012 season was released on June 5.
His departure leaves an already thin secondary with even fewer options for defensive coordinator Ted Roof heading into Penn State's season opener against Ohio on Sept. 1. O'Brien announced the dismissal of Thomas' fellow defensive back Curtis Drake on June 1, leaving Amos and the starter at left corner, senior Stephon Morris, as the only corners with significant game experience left on the roster.
Thomas was ruled academically ineligible for the Nittany Lions' appearance in the TicketCity Bowl on Jan. 2 in Dallas and did not travel with the team. He joins Drake, wide receiver Devon Smith and defensive lineman Shawn Oakman among players who have been dismissed or left the team since O'Brien replaced the late Joe Paterno as head coach in January.
