In January of this year, Penn State announced that Adam Breneman would be forced to retire from the sport due to a chronic knee injury. Nearly six months later?
Never mind.
On his Twitter account Tuesday night, Breneman announced that he would be resuming his collegiate playing career at UMass. The tight end’s decision came "[a]fter consultation with my trainers and doctors, and a lot of hard work in the gym.”
“After much prayer, I believe that this is all part of God’s plan for me,” Breneman added.#FireTheMusket pic.twitter.com/3NazoywUBH
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) August 2, 2016
Mentioned in the social media missive, Austin Whipple is a quarterback who transferred from Penn State to UMass in July of 2014. He’s also the son of Minutemen head coach Mark Whipple.
If Breneman is healthy, he’ll be a significant target for Whipple’s offense as he’ll be eligible to play immediately in 2016. The health angle, though, makes it a big if.
Breneman missed all of the 2014 season because of the chronic knee injury that forced his brief sabbatical, and played in just two games this past season.
As a true freshman in 2013, Breneman caught 15 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Those were the only statistics Breneman would end up recording because of the injury issues.
A four-star member of PSU’s 2013 recruiting class, the 6-4, 243-pound Breneman was rated as the No. 3 tight end in the country. Aside from quarterback Christian Hackenberg, Breneman was the highest-rated member of that class.
Prior to signing with the Nittany Lions, Breneman sustained a torn ACL the summer before his senior in high school in 2012. It’s the same knee that led to his truncated career in Happy Valley.
