A former Penn State football player claims coach James Franklin retaliated against him after he reported a violent hazing incident in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday.

Isaiah Humphries, who was recruited by Penn State but eventually left the program, is suing Franklin and ex-teammate Damion Barber.

All-American linebacker Michah Parsons is also mentioned as a participant in the suit, along with Yetur Gross-Matos and Jesse Luketa. However, these players are not named as defendants.

Among Humphries claims in the suit are that Barber, Parsons, Gross-Matos and Luketa would wrestle under classmen to the ground and while holding them there “place his genitals on the face of the lower classman” and place “their penises between the cheeks of the buttocks of lower classmen, such as the plaintiff, while naked in the locker-room shower. “

The players also allegedly made reference to former coach Jerry Sandusky, who is serving a lengthy jail sentence for sexually abusing boys involved in his charity.

The suit, which was filed by Humphries through his attorneys Steven F. Marino and Joseph Auddino of the Philadelphia-based law firm Marino Associates, states Humphries joined the team after being awarded a full athletic scholarship to the university in late 2017, beginning at the school for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Beginning in January 2018, the suit says, Humphries was made victim to rounds of hazing which he says were “orchestrated” by Barber, Parsons, Gross-Matos and Luketa.

The suit says the hazing rituals included the aforementioned “organizers” saying they would make the lower classmen “their (expletive) because this is a prison.”

The suit goes on to say the defendant and the participants explicitly threatened sexual abuse, allegedly saying, “I am going to Sandusky you.”

The participants allegedly forced contact on the lower classmen, including Humphries.

Their actions allegedly “included the participants overpowering lower classmen, wrestling the lower classmen to the ground, and while maintaining a restraint of the lower classmen, another participant would present his penis close to the face of the lower classmen and stroke his genitalia, simulating the action of ejaculation.”

The participants also allegedly placed their penises between the buttocks cheeks of lower classmen and on their faces.

The suit says this behavior is a clear violation of both laws prohibiting hazing and Penn State’s own anti-hazing policy.

However, Humphries says when the alleged behavior was reported by his father, former Penn State and NFL player Leonard Humphries, to Franklin and other members, he was retaliated against and no other action was taken.

Humphries claims he was forced to participate in drills that were designed for him to fail. That failure, in turn, was used as an excuse to keep him from playing.

He also claims he was denied medication from the coaching staff he needed to treat anxiety and narcolepsy.

Additionally, Luketa allegedly threatened to have Humphries gunned down should he ever visit Luketa’s Canadian hometown.

Humphries is seeking an unspecified amount in damages in his suit.

Reporting from the Johnstown-based WJAC suggests that the Center County District Attorney’s Office investigated Humphries’ claims, but declined to press charges.

If you believe you have been sexually assaulted or injured by the harassment of another, Marino Associates can help. Use the free case evaluation form  or call 215-462-3200 to speak to one of our expert attorneys who will give you immediate answers to important questions.