Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1305106
REMEMBER THE TITANS Inspired by a succession of All-America predecessors, Jesse Luketa looks to make some Penn State history of his own as his first starting season begins esse Luketa is a student of Line- backer U history. He knows the names: LaVar Arrington, Paul Posluszny, Sean Lee, NaVorro Bowman. He knows their stories. He's watched their film. Luketa also knows that he's a part of that history. How big a part? That's about to be determined. When he traveled to Los Angeles during Penn State's extended off-season to work out with Arrington, the former Nittany Lion great kept posing the same question to his young protege, day after day: How are you going to be re- membered? As he traverses a junior sea- son in which he has assumed a much bigger role in the Lions' defensive for- tunes, that question is still ringing in Luketa's ears. "The only thing I'm concerned about moving forward is, how are people going to remember Jesse Luketa? That's the only thing. That's what wakes me up day in and day out," he said. "I go into prac- tice, and I practice with a purpose. That's my only focus." Luketa has joined the starting lineup, with Micah Parsons having opted to forgo his junior season to prepare for the NFL Draft. Before Parsons' exit, the 6-foot-3, 242-pound Luketa had been set to com- pete with Ellis Brooks for the starting middle linebacker spot. But he had served as Parsons' backup last year, wrapping up his sophomore season with 24 tackles and four passes defended, and he's seemingly well-positioned to slide over to the Will outside linebacker spot in Brent Pry's defensive scheme, with Brooks in the middle and Brandon Smith at the Sam OLB position. Most of Luketa's fel- low linebackers have taken a straightforward path to major-college success. Luketa has, too, but his path to Penn State involved a few extra steps at the beginning. He grew up in Ottawa playing the more wide-open Canadian version of the game but dreamed of be- coming an impact player on an Ameri- can college team. In order to be recruited by elite programs, he needed to play American high school football, so he headed to Erie, Pa., and enrolled at Mercyhurst Prep. That move in itself was a test of his determination and re- sourcefulness. "At the time, I didn't know how I was | NEXT MAN UP Luketa has re- placed Micah Parsons at the Will outside linebacker spot this sea- son. He had three tackles in Penn State's opener at Indiana before being forced to leave the game due to a targeting penalty. Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics J >>