Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1520787
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 2 1 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M freshman. That was part of the reason he was able to earn a role on special teams right away while earning opportunities on defense week in and week out as the season progressed. "I came in and I was obviously light, and now that I'm heavier and have gotten some reps in games, whether it was gar- bage time or not, that led the way to me [being where I am] right now," Rojas said. "Playing with the older guys, it really just boosted my confidence." Redshirt junior linebacker Dominic DeLuca agreed with Rojas' self-assess- ment. "He picks up the game really fast and really well," DeLuca said. "He's always excited to learn. He's doing a lot of film study, a lot of study with the coaches, and just asking a lot of questions to me and the coaches. When he comes off the field, we always talk. What do you see here? What made you uncomfortable? What was a little weird, and what was different? "We really talk through everything, and we're learning from each other. He's a great athlete. I'm excited for him this year." Allen will have plenty of options at his disposal at linebacker this fall. Few are as ready-made to shine as Rojas, though, which is why he has been generating so much buzz with the season steadily ap- proaching. Penn State will rely on Rojas to lead the way on the outside while King and senior Tyler Elsdon do the same inside. With Curtis Jacobs now headed to the NFL and Carter at defensive end, the Lions are without their two top outside lineback- ers from last year's team. That's why it's imperative for Rojas to take the next steps this summer after a strong spring and develop into the every-down player the Lions were convinced he could be when they went all-in for him as a recruit two years ago. "I'm just getting closer with the guys, and I feel like that will play a big factor next season," Rojas said after the spring game, in which he made 2 tackles, includ- ing 1 for loss. "Just being close to them and building bonds now, that will go a long way. They'll have trust in me, and I have trust in them." ■ Carter Facing Misdemeanor Assault Charge Following Alleged Confrontation Penn State junior defensive end Abdul Carter was charged April 24 with misdemeanor assault for an alleged physical altercation involving a tow truck driver in March. According to an affidavit of probable cause, Carter's Dodge Challenger was in the process of be- ing towed from the Aspen apartment complex in State College early in the morning of March 16 for being parked there without a permit. After hearing his car alarm, Carter confronted the tow truck driver, who told him he could avoid the tow if he paid a fee. The police report states that Carter went back into the apartment to get the money, but when he returned, he expressed concerns about his car being stolen and questioned the driver's authority. Police say a verbal confrontation followed. When Carter refused to provide personal information to the tow truck driver, the driver resumed the process of towing the car. Carter told the driver he would call 911 and physically prevented the driver from entering the car. The report alleges that Carter backed away after the driver picked up a metal bar from the truck. Citing witness video, police say that the altercation turned physical when Carter pulled the driver out of the car and threw him to the ground. After further tussling, including the tossing of Carter's cellphone, Carter initially continued to hold down the alleged victim until a witness threatened to call 911. Even then, the report alleges, Carter continued to prevent the driver from entering the vehicle. According to StateCollege.com, the driver of the tow truck received treatment the following day for soreness, and an "X-ray revealed he had non-displaced rib fracture." According to the court documents, Carter faces a preliminary hearing on May 22. Carter is entering his third season at Penn State. In his first two years at PSU, during which he played outside linebacker, he amassed 104 tackles, including 16 for loss and 11 sacks. He made several Freshman All-America teams in 2022 and added a first-team All-Big Ten nod to his list of ac- colades in 2023. He also was named a second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated following his sophomore year. — Nate Bauer Rojas was a coveted prospect coming out of Fairfax High, winning Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year honors in 2023. PHOTO COURTESY ON3