Why Penn State LB Tony Rojas is ‘ready to take over’ next season

Last September, Penn State opened Big Ten play with a road win at Illinois. Players jogged over to the traveling fans, posed for photos and expressed their appreciation for their support at Memorial Stadium. But one Nittany Lion hung back and delayed his postgame celebrations.

Tony Rojas, the highly touted true freshman linebacker, was still on the sideline, asking questions and picking the brain of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. It was a quiet moment, but one that spoke volumes — a young player looking to learn all he could.

Rojas is poised to take what he absorbed as a freshman and apply it in 2024. As a sophomore, Rojas is expected to step into a marquee role for a Penn State defense in transition.

Diaz is gone, leaving to become Duke’s head coach. Tom Allen is the new play-caller, and he’ll be challenged with replacing premier talent. Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac are among the top edge rushers in the 2024 draft class. Kalen King, Johnny Dixon and Daequan Hardy will be a part of NFL secondaries. And outside linebacker Curtis Jacobs is going to hear his name called when the draft rolls around in April.

The Nittany Lions have stalwarts returning, too. At linebacker, Abdul Carter and Kobe King have starting jobs locked down on the outside and inside, respectively. But someone will be tasked with replacing Jacobs, a disruptive and versatile All-Big Ten selection.

Dom DeLuca has seniority. But Rojas has what it takes to be Penn State’s next great linebacker.

“He’s ready to take over,” Jacobs said before the Peach Bowl. “He’s been a really athletic guy all year. He plays fast all the time. He’s just ready to take that next step.”

Rojas took his first steps this time last year. The Virginia native enrolled last January as one of the top prospects in the country. Rivals ranked the four-star recruit as the No. 2 outside linebacker and No. 96 player in the 2023 cycle. That potential was evident immediately.

Rojas made a splash during winter workouts and spring camp. Somehow, he added 29 pounds of “good weight,” keeping the sideline-to-sideline speed that made him a coveted prospect.

“Tony Rojas came in very competitive, very up to speed,” Kalen King said last April. “He was already acclimated into the system as soon as he got here because he was running 21, 22 miles per hour at linebacker. That’s crazy. … He didn’t lose a step.”

Rojas was viewed as the perfect player for Diaz’s aggressive defense. The former high school running back’s vision and short-area quickness were apparent. He also showed off his ball-tracking ability, the same that allowed him to rack up 13 sacks as a high school senior.

The Power Five stage wasn’t too big for Rojas. That’s why he was one of a few freshmen to earn the preseason “green light” from James Franklin — an acknowledgement that he wouldn’t redshirt in 2023.

Rojas was one of five freshmen to burn their redshirts, joining defensive end Jameial Lyons and defensive backs Zion Tracy, Elliot Washington and King Mack. Among those freshmen, only Tracy logged more defensive snaps than Rojas, who appeared in every game.

In those reps, Rojas showed promise. He also impressed behind the scenes.

“It’s instincts that come from preparation; that’s where I feel like he’s grown so much in his game,” Jacobs said. “He’s always had those natural instincts, those natural abilities. That’s why he was one of the top-rated guys in the country. But you see how he prepares, how he sees things on film and how he attacks it in practice and how he attacks it in games.”

Rojas was a key figure on special teams and made his mark on defense whenever afforded the opportunity. With Jacobs playing an abbreviated role in the Peach Bowl, Rojas posted a season-high six tackles and combined on a tackle for loss.

But Rojas’ biggest performance was at Maryland. In only seven snaps, Rojas recorded his first career interception and had a strip sack in Penn State’s 51-15 win.

“The Maryland game was a big indicator of that (growth),” Jacobs added. “He spent all week attacking it, deep diving into his preparation. And he was able to make two incredible plays because of it. I see him continuing to do that, becoming a big-time player for Penn State.”

That’s the hope for 2024, that Rojas becomes a crucial piece of Penn State’s new-look defense. And all indications are Rojas will continue developing in that direction.