Penn State Transfer: Kevin Haplea To Florida State

While most of the attention was turned on Silas Redd transferring from Penn State to USC, the Florida State Seminoles quietly picked up a PSU defection shortly after Redd's announcement on Tuesday night. Tight end Kevin Haplea announced his intentions to leave Happy Valley, and shortly thereafter word came down that he was headed to FSU. Haplea visited Tallahassee last week and it came as no surprise that he decided to finish out his career with the 'Noles.

Haplea was the most experienced tight end on the Nittany Lions' roster, but entered fall camp behind Kyle Carter on the depth chart. Haplea issued a statement, praising PSU and the fans in State College while also extolling FSU, via Sean Fitz of Lions247.com:

"It was unfortunate how everything had to play out but in the end, you have to do what is best for you in the long run," Haplea said in a prepared statement. "I was presented with some great situations at FSU and decided that Florida State was an opportunity that I could not pass up. I feel extremely comfortable with the program, the university and the coaching staff's direction for me on the field."

Haplea played in every game as a true freshman as well as last season, including a start against Alabama at the beginning of the year. Bud Elliott of Tomahawk Nation has an informative Q&A on what Haplea might bring to FSU:

What will Haplea's role be? Despite his school bio labeling him an excellent pass-catching threat, I believe he will compete for playing time against Dan Hicks for the in-line tight end (not the motion/H-Back role occupied by Nick O'Leary). At the very least, he should provide experienced depth. At best, he could be a very good blocking tight end. And no, this does not mean that he is unable to catch the football.

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