Penn State and its fans got some bad news Monday afternoon when the Centre Daily Times reported that DE Amin Vanover had been charged with driving under the influence.
With the coach scheduled to speak hours later, everybody knew he’d be asked about it, and everybody knew he wouldn’t say much.
Franklin said he “rarely goes into internal punishments with you guys,” which lines up with what most would have expected him to say.
James Franklin on Amin Vanover:
“I rarely go into internal punishments with you guys.”
Vanover was reportedly charged with two misdemeanor counts of DUI Monday from early August.
He was at practice today and has been a rotational piece through two games pic.twitter.com/JA00F97JbY
— Lyle Alenstein (@LAlenstein) September 10, 2024
Penn State is off this Saturday and isn’t back in action again until Sept. 21, when it plays Kent State in Beaver Stadium. Time will tell whether Vanover will be playing, although was seen practicing in the media’s weekly viewing window.
Bret Pallotto of the Centre Daily Times first reported that Vanover has been charged after testing positive for marijuana, per police.
The 23-year-old was charged a blood test showed he had tested positive, per an affidavit for probable cause written by State College police.
Per the CDT, no defense lawyer has been listed.
This happened in early August when Penn State was near the begging of fall camp.
The location was near the intersection of Waupelani Drive and O’Bryan Lane, and the borough wrote that Vanover had an expired tag. An office then said he smelled marijuana from the vehicle, of which Vanover was the only occupant.
Vanover then claimed that his friends had been smoking in the car and the smell had reached his clothes but Vanover had a “sleepy appearance and looked to have bloodshot eyes,” per the officer.
Vanover then told the officer he didn’t have a medical marijuna card and failed his roadside sobriety tests, per police.
The second charge Vanover has is a summary count of driving an unregistered vehicle.
A fifth-year senior, Vanover has played in both of Penn State’s games, totaling 61 snaps.
Penn State’s defensive end room is already working without Zuriah Fisher (injury) and Jameial Lyons (dismissed from team).
Coach James Franklin is scheduled to address media this evening at approximately 6:30. In the meantime, Penn State athletics issued a brief statement.
“These alleged actions do not reflect the values and standards of our program and will be addressed,” the department said. “We will not comment any further as this is an ongoing legal matter.”
Vanover’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 2, four days after Penn State is scheduled to play Illinois at Beaver Stadium.
