August 8, 2012 at 8:07 PM

Another player has left Penn State's football team, but this time that player isn't heading somewhere else to play football.

Redshirt sophomore tight end Dakota Royer is no longer on Penn State's roster, but will remain at the school to earn a degree, team spokesman Jeff Nelson confirmed Wednesday.

Royer was converted to the offensive side of the ball this season after playing linebacker in his first two years at Penn State and was listed at third string as the "F" tight end position on a depth chart released by coach Bill O'Brien in June.

Though Royer was rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com out of Manheim Central High School, things never worked out for him at Penn State. The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Lancaster native was redshirted for the 2010 season and didn't see any action in the 2011 campaign.

In a statement obtained by Blue-White Illustrated's Nate Bauer, Royer said he had to leave the team due to "circumstances beyond his control."

Here's the full statement:

“Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, I regret to inform you that I felt it necessary to remove myself from the team. I want to thank my teammates for their support and camaraderie, as well as Coach O’Brien and his staff for the opportunity. I will exercise my rights from the NCAA and continue my education at Penn State and plan to graduate in May. My best wishes go out to the team for a very successful football season."

Nelson added as of Wednesday night that the loss of Royer was the only roster move the Nittany Lions have made since training camp started Monday. Penn State has had nine players transfer to other schools after the NCAA issued harsh sanctions against the university July 23.