Penn State redshirt tight end Adam Breneman has cut his once promising college football career short due to chronic knee injuries.
The university released the following statements from Breneman and Penn State head coach James Franklin:
"I want to thank Coach [Bill] O'Brien, Coach [James] Franklin, my teammates and the Penn State fans for the great memories over the last three years," Breneman said. "I have truly treasured my time as a Nittany Lion and I am confident that the Penn State experience has prepared me for the next phase of my life."
"I know that it was a difficult for Adam to step away from the game, but he felt it was the right time," head coach James Franklin said. "We are so proud of his work in the classroom, having earned his degree in three years. Adam is a special young man that has left his imprint on not only the Penn State football program, but the Penn State community at large. He has been a difference maker at a very young age and has a bright future ahead of him."
Breneman was a key part of Penn State's 2013 recruiting class, the first following the devastating sanctions left on the program by the NCAA. Breneman was the second highest rated member of the 2013 recruiting class for Penn State, behind future star quarterback Christian Hackenberg. Breneman at the end of the 2013 recruiting cycle was considered the second best tight end in the country, only behind University of Alabama tight end O.J Howard.
Prior to his senior year of high school, Breneman tore his ACL while working out which kept him out of his entire senior football and basketball seasons. However, once he arrived at Penn State, Breneman appeared good to go.
In his freshman season, Breneman played in 11 of 12 games for the Nittany Lions, making 15 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Breneman would suffer a knee injury prior to his sophomore season and seemed to never recover as he didn't appear in any games in 2014 and only had appearances on a handful of snaps in 2015.
However, like Hackenberg, Breneman's lack of reaching his full potential is not what he will be most remembered for. Breneman his highly regarded amongst Penn State fans and writers for the person he is off the field. Breneman was a key part in keeping Penn State's 2013 recruiting class together and helping the program recover after the NCAA sanctions.
Breneman off the field was the quintessential Penn State football player in the eyes of Joe Paterno. He is a guy of character, a guy that any girl would want to have her parents meet, and just a great all-around individual. His impact on the community will forever be remembered.
During his time at Penn State, Adam was the vice president of Penn State's Uplifting Athletes chapter while also being a voice to find a cure for ALS, as he had his foundation the "Catch a Cure for A.L.S" which was inspired by a family friend. His foundation would go onto raise over $200,000.
Like one of his close friends in Christian Hackenberg, Adam Breneman at Penn State will be remembered very fondly, maybe not as a legend but he'll be remembered as a man who gave it his all every day and a man who was a legend off the field in the community.