Veteran Penn State defensive end Torrence Brown has officially hung up his cleats. The senior’s 2017 season ended with a knee injury in week three and was not expected to return this year. He took to Twitter to explain his situation on Saturday evening.

“First off, I want to thank coach Franklin and his staff for allowing me the opportunity to attend one of the best colleges in the nation. I never thought I’d have an opportunity like this considering where I’ve come from,” he wrote. “I loved my time here on and off the field and I will always cherish the memories made here.

“Due to multiple injuries and surgeries, my career at Penn State has come to an end. It has been tough coming to terms with this news but I know everything happens for a reason and God will continue to guide me. I will still be a part of the team for this upcoming season supporting from the sidelines.

“I’m looking forward to graduating this winter and getting my degree from one of the most prestigious universities in the country. My career isn’t over, this is just a bump in the road. Thank you to everyone who has, and continues to support me.”

Brown attended Penn State Photo Day at Beaver Stadium Saturday and was dressed in coaching gear. (See our true freshman gallery from the event.)

Brown has started three games in his career to date — all of them as a redshirt junior in 2017. His right knee buckled early in Penn State's 56-0 win over Georgia State at Beaver Stadium Sept. 16 and his season was over.

He has 52 tackles, 12.5 tackles for losses and a pair of sacks in his career. The best game of his career so far was in a loss at Pitt in 2016, when he registered career highs in tackles (six) and tackles for loss (two) while forcing a pair of fumbles.

A native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Brown was not heavily recruited by powerhouse college football programs. Some schools viewed him as a better basketball prospect. But Franklin and his staff began recruiting him when they were at Vanderbilt, and when they came to Penn State in January of 2014 they kept on doing so.

By that point, Brown had committed to Southern Miss. But he flipped to the Lions on Feb. 5 of that year. He redshirted during his first season in Happy Valley.

Although the news is not a surprise - Lions247 reported last fall that Brown’s career was likely over - it’s the second hit at defensive end for the Nittany Lions this week. Projected starter Ryan Buchholz cited chronic back problems in taking a medical retirement on Aug. 15.

Brown is one of only 12 scholarship seniors on the Penn State roster. The Nittany Lions’ remaining scholarship seniors are RB Mark Allen, LB Manny Bowen, LB Jake Cooper, LB Koa Farmer, QB Trace McSorley, CB Amani Oruwariye, S Nick Scott, RB Johnathan Thomas, WR DeAndre Thompkins, OT Chasz Wright and LS Kyle Vasey (a former walk-on).

According to his media guide bio, Brown is majoring in recreation, parks and tourism management.

The Nittany Lions open the 2018 season against Appalachian State of the Sun Belt Conference at Beaver Stadium Sept. 1. The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. and will be carried by BTN. It will be the first meeting between Penn State and the Mountaineers.

Mark Brennan contributed to this report.