Penn State's Adam Breneman forced to end career due to chronic knee pain

Penn State tight end Adam Breneman's chronic knee issues have forced him to end his once-promising run with the Nittany Lions.

Breneman will retire, the team announced Thursday, unable to escape the injury that plagued his collegiate career.

"I want to thank Coach (Bill) O'Brien, Coach (James) Franklin, my teammates, and the Penn State fans for the great memories over the last three years," Breneman said in a statement. "I have truly treasured my time as a Nittany Lion and I am confident that the Penn State experience has prepared me for the next phase of my life."

Breneman was a four-star recruit in 2013, and the top-ranked tight end in his class.

The Pennsylvania native graduated in December, and will shift his focus to finding a career in business or politics.

Breneman played in eight games in his freshman season, hauling in 15 receptions for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He missed the entire 2014 campaign and only appeared in two games in 2015, registering no statistics.