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Quarterback Newsome reportedly looking to leave Penn State

That quarterback logjam at Penn State could be breaking up soon, if reports of third-stringer Kevin Newsome's interest in taking his talents elsewhere are accurate.

That quarterback logjam at Penn State could be breaking up soon, if reports of third-stringer Kevin Newsome's interest in taking his talents elsewhere are accurate.

Newsome, a 6-2, 221-pound sophomore from Portsmouth, Va., who was perceived as the Nittany Lions' "quarterback of the future" as recently as 2009, when he was the primary backup to All-Big Ten Conference quarterback Darryl Clark, began the preseason as the favorite to succeed Clark, now a member of the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders. But Newsome lost out to true freshman Robert Bolden in a three-way competition that also included redshirt sophomore Matt McGloin, a former walk-on. He then dropped to third on the depth chart when McGloin supplanted Bolden in midseason.

Coach Joe Paterno, whose 7-5 team will play 7-5 Florida in the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl in Tampa, said earlier in the week that McGloin had "done a good job for us" and would "be our quarterback" in that game.

With highly regarded true freshman quarterback Paul Jones sitting out this season as a redshirt, the likelihood of Newsome ever seeing much playing time, barring a position change, seems increasingly remote.

Nate Bauer, writing for the Bluewhiteillustrated.com website, cited unnamed sources that Newsome was considering a transfer to another school where he might stand a better chance to get on the field sooner.

Newsome completed six of 13 passes for 78 yards and rushed 13 times for 69 yards and a touchdown in mop-up duty after completing eight of 11 passes for 66 yards and rushing 20 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns in 2009.

Jeff Nelson, Penn State's assistant athletic director for communications, said he was not aware of any discontent on Newsome's part. An announcement of an impending player transfer would not likely be released in any case by Penn State unless first cleared by Paterno.

Paterno has been complimentary of Newsome's athleticism, but he, at times, questioned his decision-making, particularly in the passing game.