PENN STATE SIGNS FRANKLIN TO DEAL THROUGH 2022

PA.» Penn State STATE COLLEGE, coach James Franklin has signed a contract extension that guarantees him $34.7 million through 2022.

According to terms released by Penn State on Friday, the deal is worth an average of $5.78 million annually and contains up to $1 million in incentive bonuses each year. The extension modifies the initial six-year contract Franklin signed when he was hired in 2014. That contract was to pay him $4.6 million this year.

After back-to-back 7-6 seasons in Franklin’s first two years in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions won the Big Ten last year. Penn State finished 11-3 and No. 6 in the country after starting 2-2, capping the program’s best season in the post-Joe Paterno era with a 52-49 loss to Southern California in the Rose Bowl.

A blowout loss to Michigan last September had Penn State fans doubting Franklin’s ability to turn around a program that was still recovering from NCAA sanctions brought on by the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Athletic director Sandy Barbour was even compelled to give Franklin a public vote of confidence.

Ga. Tech boots running back.

ATLANTA» Georgia Tech running back Dedrick Mills has been kicked off the team for a violation of athletic department rules.

The announcement came Friday, with the season opener against Tennessee less than three weeks away.

Mills was Georgia Tech’s top returning offensive player after a stellar freshman season. The B-back rushed for 771 yards and 12 touchdowns in just nine games, capping the year with a 31-carry, 169-yard performance against Kentucky to earn MVP honors in the TaxSlayer Bowl.

The school did not specify what rules Mills violated.

Coach Paul Johnson was scheduled to meet with the media later Friday to discuss Mills’ dismissal.

Footnote. BYU linebacker Francis Bernard is redshirting this season due to personal reasons. The 6-foot-1, 240pound junior started 12 games last season. He was third on the team with 80 tackles.