GREENSBURG - Penn State University said it has placed three football players accused of making prank phone calls on "team probation."

No criminal charges were filed against the three. They are Dan Connor, a sophomore projected to start at outside linebacker; reserve Jim Kanuch, a junior former defensive back switched to receiver this spring, and fellow reserve Nolan McCready, a junior safety.

It was unclear exactly what "team probation" meant. Jeff Nelson of the university's sports information staff told the Tribune-Review for Friday's editions that he did not attend the Wednesday or Thursday practice sessions, so he did not know whether the three players were allowed to attend.

"This just came to light within the last couple of days. We're still trying to gather information," Nelson said, predicting that coach Joe Paterno would decide soon what to do about the phone calls allegedly made earlier this year.

This came less than a week after Paterno publicly scolded two players who had fired arrows through the wall of an on-campus apartment. Those players were fined $100 each after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief. The university expelled them for two semesters.