Penn State has suspended wide receiver Saeed Blacknall and linebacker Manny Bowen for the Rose Bowl against USC because of a violation of team rules, the school announced Wednesday.
“We have some guys who won’t participate for reasons that we won’t get into right now, for violation of team rules. We’ll leave it at that,” Penn State coach James Franklin told reporters Tuesday, without revealing details of the suspensions.
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Blacknall, a junior, had his best game of the season in Penn State's 38-31 Big Ten championship game win over Wisconsin, hauling in six catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns. He had just 192 yards and one TD in seven games played this season.
Bowen played in all 13 games for the No. 5 Nittany Lions, recording 67 tackles and two sacks.
No. 9 USC also has a pair of players suspended for the Rose Bowl with linebacker Olajuwon Tucker and defensive tackle Kevin Scott ruled academically ineligible.