Penn State center Michal Menet, the former Exeter standout, will return to the Nittany Lions in 2020.
The 6-4, 313-pound Menet announced Tuesday on social media that he decided to come back for his senior season and not enter the NFL Draft.
“I am not ready for my time with this football family to end yet,” he wrote on social media, “and (I) continue to enjoy every minute with my brothers. I feel I have unfinished business to take care of, including completing my Penn State degree (in psychology).”
Menet has started 24 of the last 25 games at center and is a team captain this season for Penn State (10-2), which will learn its bowl destination Sunday.
His announcement followed one Saturday by sophomore tight end Pat Freiermuth, who could have declared for the draft but decided he will return to the Lions in 2020.
“Thank you, Nittany Nation, for your unwavering support,” Menet wrote. “We still have work left to do in the 2019 season in our bowl game. But I can’t wait to be back in front of our 107K strong in Beaver Stadium.”
The return of Menet and Freiermuth boosts Penn State’s hopes for next season when the Lions could return as many as nine starters on offense and five on defense.
“I have been very blessed during my football career to have the opportunity to play at the highest level,” Menet wrote, “and to be in this position.”
Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos announced later Monday that he is forgoing his final season and will enter the NFL draft.
Wide receiver KJ Hamler, offensive tackle Will Fries, defensive end Shaka Toney, defensive tackle Antonio Shelton, cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields and safety Lamont Wade are in their third year in the Penn State program and are eligible to enter the draft.