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The university announced Saturday that Savage, a sophomore, and freshman running back Casey Turner have been granted conditional releases.

"I thought about it with my family, and we just thought it was the best decision for me," Savage told ScarletNation.com. "It is just a fresh start somewhere else."

"We wish Tom and Casey the best in their future endeavors," head coach Greg Schiano said in a statement.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Savage played in 18 games during his two-year career in Piscataway and completed 52.2 percent of his passes. He finished his career with 2,732 yards passing with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Turner redshirted in 2010 after suffering a groin injury and did not see any game action for the Scarlet Knights. He will transfer to Florida A&M.

The announcement comes in the wake of the Jan. 3 hiring of former Pittsburgh assistant Frank Cignetti Jr. to serve as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Tom Savage Sr. said Saturday he had no idea where his son would end up.

"We don't have a clue," he said by phone. "He's just going to throw his name out there and start over like he did he when he came out of high school. I never thought we'd get this way, but here we are."

In six games this season, Savage went 43 of 83 for 521 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions while battling injuries to his knee, ribs and hand.

Freshman Chas Dodd took over for Savage over the final eight games. Dodd went 123 of 223 for 1,637 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season.

"I knew Tom was very unhappy," his father said. "After he got hurt the first, second and third games, he got pretty banged up. They went with the kid [Dodd] with the hot hand and stayed with him. When the hot hand's not over-hot, the kid [Savage] was hot the year before. He should reclaim his starting position."

Savage Sr. said his son had to get his knee drained and also got his "ribs banged up in North Carolina [Sept. 25] pretty good."

Savage also injured his right (throwing) hand Oct. 2 against Tulane. He returned to relieve Dodd in a 41-21 loss to Pitt Oct. 23, but Dodd started the final eight games.

If Savage opts to transfer to a Football Bowl Subdivision program, he must sit out a year.

If, on the other hand, he leaves for a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) school, he could play immediately.

"We're gonna put our name there and start looking at the schools that might need a quarterback," Savage Sr. said.

"He's willing to compete. He'll go out there and compete but he thought a fresh start would be better for him. We don't really know what the future holds."