STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Anwar Phillips, Penn State's starting nickel back, has left the university for personal reasons, but team officials said they expect him to return for the 2003 season.

Phillips, who had 20 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery last year as a redshirt freshman, is not enrolled for the spring semester. His high school coach, Randy Trivers of Northwest High School in Germantown, Md., said Phillips had "some things he has to take care of with his family."

Phillips was recruited to Penn State as a wide receiver, but found himself among a large group of young, talented receivers. After injuries sidelined safeties Yaacov Yisrael and Ben Lago and cornerback Calvin Lowry, Phillips was moved to defense, playing mostly on passing downs.

Although he was expected to compete next season for the cornerback spot opened by Bryan Scott's graduation, Phillips had said during the season that he hoped to return to offense.

But defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said he expected Phillips to return.

"I'm not worried about him," Bradley said. "You'd like to have him here for spring practice, but he's not here."

Cornerback Alan Zemaitis, who played in every game for the Nittany Lions and started against Louisiana Tech, also might miss spring practices after wrecking his car.

Zemaitis, of Spencerport, N.Y., had a fractured frontal sinus and cuts and bruises to his forehead after his car overturned Monday on Route 15. Authorities said Zemaitis, who was not wearing a seat belt, slid off the road and into a guard rail. His car came to rest on its roof.

Originally published Friday, January 24, 2003