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Penn State Football's US Marine, Imannuel Iyke

By Arielle Sargent, GoPSUSports.com

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Just a few days shy of Penn State Football's Military Appreciation Day, when servicemembers from 27 different states will join the anticipated 107,000 strong in Beaver Stadium Saturday, there will already be one servicemember suited up on the sidelines.

That servicemember is United States Marine Corporal Imannuel Iyke, who now suits up much differently than he did five years ago.

No. 96 on the roster, the Nittany Lion defensive tackle enrolled at Penn State last year at the age of 23.

"It's kind of a long story," Iyke said with a smile, agreeing to share his unique journey to Penn State on a sun-spotted morning at the Lasch Football Building.