Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1531683
3 8 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M RETURNING STARTERS Dominic DeLuca | R-Sr. DeLuca was Penn State's first-team Sam linebacker, but because the Nittany Lions frequently opened with five defen- sive backs, the redshirt junior made only five starts. He finished ninth on PSU's de- fense with 40 tackles and tied for the team lead with 3 interceptions, including 2 picks against SMU in the first round of the Col- lege Football Playoff. Tony Rojas | Jr. Although he played through an injury for much of the 2024 season, Rojas fin- ished fifth on the team with 58 tackles. He had a pick six that helped Penn State build a comfortable halftime lead against SMU. OTHER RETURNEES Kari Jackson | R-Fr. Although Penn State saw its linebacker depth eroded by injuries and attrition, the staff followed through with its plans to redshirt Jackson. DaKaari Nelson | R-So. Nelson made a smooth transition from safety to linebacker just ahead of the 2024 season. He played in 14 games and started against Illinois, finishing the season with 5 tackles. Ta'Mere Robinson | R-So. After working his way back from an in- jury in preseason practice, Robinson saw his role increase as the season went on. He played 100 snaps on defense and 119 on special teams, finishing the year with 11 tackles. Anthony Speca | R-Fr. Speca helped shore up Penn State's depth in the latter portion of the sea- son. He played in four regular-season games to preserve his redshirt and also appeared briefly in the Nittany Lions' win over SMU. Keon Wylie | R-Jr. Wylie suffered a knee injury last spring and missed the entire season. He re- turned to practice late in the year and will be an important player for Penn State in 2025 when he'll have a chance to vie for the vacant Mike linebacker position. NEWCOMERS LaVar Arrington II | Fr. Arrington totaled 45 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hurries as a senior at Charter Oak (Calif.) High. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound prospect earned a three-star grade from On3 and is listed as the No. No. 37 linebacker nationally and No. 35 player in California. Cam Smith | Fr. The 6-0, 200-pound Smith had 58 tackles, including 17 for loss and 7 sacks, for a St. Joseph's Prep team that won the Pennsylvania Class 6A state title in 2024. He's rated by On3 as a three-star pros- pect and is listed as the No. 48 linebacker nationally and No. 12 player in Pennsyl- vania. Alex Tatsch | Fr. Tatsch was slowed by a shoulder in- jury during his senior season at Greater Latrobe (Pa.) High but still totaled 40 tackles, including 11 for loss. Standing 6-2, 215 pounds, he's a four-star pros- pect and is listed by On3 as the No. 152 overall player and No. 17 linebacker na- tionally, as well as the No. 4 prospect in Pennsylvania. 2025 Outlook Kobe King's decision to forgo his final season of eligibility is significant for Penn State. In addition to finishing as PSU's second- leading tackler, he was the "green dot" player with in-helmet communications and tasked with ensuring that the defense was properly aligned. King's leadership was one of the main rea- sons why the Nittany Lions were among the nation's top 10 in scoring defense (16.5 points per game), total defense (294.8 yards per game), turnovers gained (26), interceptions (20) and defensive touchdowns (4) in 2024. In addition to losing King, the Lions have bid farewell to defensive coordinator Tom Allen. The team hadn't announced Allen's successor as of Jan. 20, but there's reason to believe the transition will go smoothly at linebacker. Defensive analyst Dan Connor was the unit's primary coach this past season while Allen floated between position groups. Connor, an All-America linebacker during his playing days at Penn State, should serve as a stabilizing force. "He knows what he's doing," King said. "He knows what he's talking about. He's seen what we're seeing [from his time as a player], so he just helps us in a lot of ways." Penn State will rely on a collection of re- turning veterans, promising young talent, and the unknowns that Wylie and Robinson pres- ent as they look to stay healthy. How the unit fares under the direction of a new defensive coordinator will be of heightened interest to Nittany Lion fans this offseason. — Nate Bauer Penn State Has A Big Hole To Fill In The Middle Dominic DeLuca played a starring role in Penn State's win over SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff, returning an interception 23 yards for a touch- down. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS 2025 LOOK AHEAD LINEBACKER