Paul Jones is no longer a member of Penn State's football team.
Before practice on Wednesday, coach Bill O'Brien confirmed Jones left the team for personal reasons and the quarterback-turned-tight end has been removed from Penn State's roster.
Jones tweeted soon after O'Brien gave the official word.
"Just want to say thank you to everyone that has reached out to me offering their support. I really appreciate it," the tweet read.
Earlier in the day, quarterback Matt McGloin said Jones was not at practice Tuesday, but McGloin said he didn't know anything about Jones' status at the time.
"Whether he comes back or whether he decides to leave, I wish him the best of luck," McGloin said.
Jones, a redshirt sophomore, was recently converted into a tight end after spending his first two seasons as a quarterback. He competed with McGloin throughout the spring as a signal caller and was listed as the No. 2 quarterback at the beginning of the season, but he has since been jumped on the depth chart by true freshman Steven Bench.
The 6-foot-3, 258-pound McKees Rocks native was listed as the second-string "F" tight end and the third option at quarterback on this week's depth chart for the team's Big Ten opener at Illinois.
Jones played in his first collegiate game on Sept. 15 against Navy and made one catch for seven yards. Last week against Temple, Jones had one carry which went for a loss of seven.
Penn State is now left with four quarterbacks on its roster as Shane McGregor and Garrett Venuto join McGloin and Bench.
