STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (CBS Connecticut/AP) — Star tailback Silas Redd of Norwalk is bolting Penn State for Southern California.

“This has obviously been a very busy, emotionally draining week for me and my family,’ Redd said in a text message to the Hartford Courant. “As many of you know, playing football at Penn State has been a dream of mine since I was seven years old, and I will be forever grateful that this dream became a reality.”

The 1,200-yard rusher opted Tuesday to leave a Nittany Lions program facing stiff sanctions handed down by the NCAA in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

Among the penalties was a four-year postseason ban.

The NCAA gave Penn State players the option to transfer immediately and play for another school this year. Redd visited USC over the weekend and heard Coach Lane Kiffin’s pitch to be a key cog for a Trojans team expected to be highly ranked and contend for the Pac-12 title.

“The Penn State community — including the Nittany Lions’ unbelievable fan base — has also been a huge part of my incredible experience over the past two years,’ Redd’s text message continued. “I have grown tremendously as a person and a player at Penn State, and the support of the community and our fans has been a big part of the reason why.”

Redd is the second player to leave Penn State since the sanctions were announced July 23.

Pat Haden says “we welcome Silas Redd to the Trojan family. He is an outstanding student and athlete.”

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