Bill O’Brien opened his first training camp Monday as head coach with morning drills. It’s also the first formal workout since strict NCAA sanctions including a four-year bowl ban and significant scholarship declines were leveled for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

The players who had nothing to do with the ugly scandal were caught in the middle. Nine Nittany Lions have taken advantage of an opportunity from the NCAA allowing an immediate transfer to play for other schools this season, most notably 1,200-yard rusher Silas Redd.

But O’Brien appears to have hung on to the majority of his core players, especially on defense. The season opens Sept. 1 against Ohio.