Former Penn State football player files hazing lawsuit against James Franklin, other players

A former Penn State football player has filed a civil lawsuit against coach James Franklin, the university and a current player, alleging that he was hazed and harassed while with the team.

Isaiah Humphries alleges in the suit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, that players made sexual references and gestures, wrestled him to the floor and referenced Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant coach imprisoned for child sexual abuse.

Franklin, the university and current player Damion Barber are named as defendants in the suit. Current players Micah Parsons and Jesse Luketa are listed in the suit, as is former player Yetur Gross-Matos.

Humphries’ suit consists of eight counts, including violation of Pennsylvania anti-hazing law, assault and battery, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

According to the suit, Humphries reported the alleged incidents — which he said happened to other underclassmen, as well — to Franklin and members of the coaching staff. The suit also says staff members observed some of the alleged incidents and that Humphries’ athletic performance was “overly and unfairly scrutinized” by the coaching staff after he reported them.

Humphries transferred from Penn State to the University of California in 2019. His father, Leonard, played at Penn State. According to the suit, Leonard Humphries also reported the alleged incidents to Franklin.

Penn State issued a statement addressing the allegations.

“The University has established processes in place for responding to claims of potential misconduct,” the statement read. “In accordance with our processes, the Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response and the Office of Student Conduct carried out investigations of the plaintiff’s claims independent from Intercollegiate Athletics. In addition, Penn State police investigated related allegations and forwarded the results of that investigation to the Office of the Centre County District Attorney. The DA reviewed the case and decided that no charges would be pursued.”