It wasn’t supposed to end like this.

23 months ago, quarterback Rob Bolden became the first freshman to start a season opener at the position for Penn State since 1910. His final numbers that day were 20-29, 239 yards, 2 TD, and 1 INT. He would never throw for that many yards or multiple touchdown passes in a game again.

After a few threats and rumored transfers over the past year and a half, it appears that the rising junior is officially leaving the program. As of Sunday night around 10 p.m, Bolden is no longer listed on the official Penn State roster. This news follows an earlier report that Bolden spent the weekend in Louisiana and may transfer to the LSU program. Other players rumored to be considering transfers including running back Silas Redd, tight end Kevin Haplea, linebacker Khiari, Fortt, linebacker Mike Hull, and kicker Anthony Fera all still remain on the roster as of this morning.

Bolden’s story at Penn State is pretty well known by now. A hyped, four-star recruit was given the reins right away, played unevenly through half a season before suffering a concussion, never really got his job back in 2010, threatened to transfer last winter and spring, played poorly last season when given the opportunity, and had a poor Blue-White game performance under a new coaching staff.

If you followed it all closely, the transfer is viewed as more of no longer prolonging the inevitable as opposed to an impulse reaction to NCAA sanctions. In fact, Bolden asked and received his release before the NCAA sanctions were even handed down. There’s just not that many benefits to being a third string quarterback in a place where things have never completely clicked.

While many fans turned on Bolden after ineffective play last season, Wings Over Happy Valley will certainly be upset to no longer have the business of their most loyal customer.

In terms of the depth chart, it makes sense that true freshman Steven Bench will slide into the third spot behind Matt McGloin and Paul Jones with Shane McGregor being behind Bench.

Bolden arrived in Happy Valley with a bang. A highly touted, dual-threat quarterback from Orchard Lake, Michigan, he turned heads at summer practice and looked to be the clear successor to All-Big Ten quarterback Daryll Clark. If this happened in January 2011 following the Outback Bowl, many would have looked at it as a big deal. Now, it appears Bolden has departed with little more than a whisper.