Penn State receiver and State College native Alex Kenney knew that he wasn’t returning to the football team in 2014, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to hit the gridiron again.

So when Penn State takes on UMass next season during the non conference schedule, at least one player on the opposite side of the field will be familiar.

That’s because Kenney will transfer to UMass following the conclusion of the spring semester.”Alex graduated last December and is ready to start graduate school,” Larry Kenney, Alex’s father said. “His decision to go to UMass was as much academic as it was football. As a graduate student he will be eligible immediately upon enrolling. As of now, he’s still a Penn State athlete and starts his indoor track season this Saturday.”

While a member of the football team Kenney saw limited action but pulled down 20 receptions for 197 yards in his career.

“He’s shown up to practice every week, he’s played hard, practiced hard and done everything we’ve asked him to do,” Then head coach Bill O’Brien said of Kenney. “He’s a great kid. Just a really good kid in our program and a local guy. It hasn’t probably worked out for him on the field as much as he would have liked it to. But he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. Can’t say enough good things about Alex.”

Kenney will join his sister Lauren, who won the javelin title at the 2013 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships and qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year.