Penn State coach James Franklin would not comment on two dismissed Penn State players facing multiple felony charges, including rape.
After a university spokesperson read a statement beforehand saying thereโd be no comment, the first question of Franklinโs weekly Wednesday post-practice scrum was about the recent news that dismissed players Jameial Lyons and Kaveion Keys were to be charged.
Franklin stepped aside to make room for the spokesperson to tell the assembled media that there would be no comment.
A reporter than asked Franklin โat what point in the summer were you aware that these guys were not going to be on the team.โ
Before the question was done, Franklin again began walking off.
โAgain, guys,โ the spokesperson said. โThe university already released a statement. If you need the statement, reach out to me or Kris (Peterson). Weโll have no further comment.โ
A Penn State spokesman ahead of James Franklinโs post-practice media session says the head coach will have no comment on Jameial Lyons and Kaveion Keys. Both former players face felonies including rape.
Qs about both have since been asked and James Franklin will not answer. pic.twitter.com/qfD83jTzWy
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) October 23, 2024
Eventually, James Franklin returned to the session and things proceeded, but not as normal. Franklin usually talks with media for 10-plus minutes on Wednesdays. This time, he talked for less than five.
THE CHARGES
Sophomore defensive end Jameial Lyons with a pass rush effort against second year J’ven Williams.
Photo by Penn State Athletics: Kaveion Keys
In late July, word got out that the two players had been suspended. Days later, it was confirmed that they were no longer with the program or enrolled at the University. The felony charges came down more than two months later.
Per the docket, Lyons is being charged with rape, aggravated indecent assault without consent, indecent assault, voluntary deviant sexual intercourse and invasion of privacy.
Per Keysโ docket sheet, heโs being charged with rape, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, and indecent assault.
The Centre Daily Times first reported that the docket sheets were online, which indicated that charges would be coming, and these charges stem from an alleged incident that took place this past July in State College.
โNo defense lawyers were listed on the dockets sheets, which are summaries of court case proceedings and filings,โ wrote Bret Pallotto of the CDT. โAffidavits of probable cause โ documents that detail police investigations and evidence prosecutors have gathered โ were not immediately released. The suspects are to be arraigned Wednesday by District Judge Don Hahn. His office said Tuesday the affidavits would be released after Keys and Lyons are arraigned.โ
This news broke Tuesday afternoon, after James Franklin gave his weekly Monday press conference, so Wednesday was the first chance media had to speak with him since the news broke.
The next day, Pallotto reported an update.ย
โTwo former Penn State football players accused of raping a student gave police differing accounts of what happened, according to charging documents made public Wednesday. Jameial J. Lyons Jr., 19, of Philadelphia, was accused of raping a 17-year-old Penn State student July 7 at an on-campus apartment. He was also accused of groping, digital penetration and forcing her to perform oral sex.
Kaveion A. Keys, 19, of Virginia, was accused of similar sexual violence against the teen. A short video of the contact with their accuser was found on a cellphone Lyons possessed, university police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause. Lyons was also charged for indecently assaulting a second woman who was intoxicated. Neither woman consented to the sexual contact, police wrote.โ
Pallotto also reported that the two were arrogated Wednesday morning by District Judge Don Hahn. Hahn set Lyonsโ bailโ unsecuredโ at $500,000โ and Keysโ bail was set at $400,000.
โThey will remain free and neither was required to post bail unless they violate their bail conditions,โ Pallotto wrote.
PENN STATEโS STATEMENT
Not long after the story got out, Penn State released a statement on the impending charges.
“We are aware of the serious charges against Mr. Keys and Mr. Lyons, who are no longer enrolled at the University,โ the statement read. โThe safety of our community is our top priority, and Penn State takes any report of sexual assault or misconduct very seriously and investigates any and all reports.”
Lyons was expected by many to breakout in his second season.
Lyons came to Penn State and James Franklin ย after a standout career at Philadelphiaโs Roman Catholic High School. As a senior, Lyons finished with 64 tackles and six sacks, helping his team to a 9-3 record. Lyons also played at Bishop McDevitt High School in PA, helping the squad to a Catholic league championship as a freshman. After his sophomore year, Bishop McDevitt closed. Lyons was a four-star prospect, committing to Penn State in April 2022 over Boston College, Cincinnati, Nebraska and West Virginia, among others.
Mostย freshmen redshirt their first season. Lyons didnโt do that. He appeared in eight of Penn Stateโs 13 games, ending the season with six tackles (two solo), a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurray. The sack took place against Delaware in Week 2, and it didnโt look pleasant for the QB.
Keys was a team captain for two seasons at Richmondโs Varina High School, helping the team to a state championship as a junior. That junior season was also successful for Keys from an individual standpoint. He was named first-team all-state. In his senior season the next year, Keys finished with 70 tackles (nine for loss) and 11 sacks. He committed to North Carolina in Aug. 2022, but de-committed in December. Five days before signing day, the four-star recruit announced his commitment to Penn State.
Keys would have likely competed with veteran will Dom DeLuca for playing time at the SAM linebacker position.
