Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1537537
A U G U S T 2 0 2 5 6 9 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / L I N E B A C K E R S / / / / / / / Despite playing hurt, Rojas finished fifth on the team and second among the linebackers with 58 tackles. He had 6 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with 3 interceptions, one of which he re- turned 59 yards for a touchdown in Penn State's 38-10 victory over SMU in the opening round of the College Football Playoff. That performance was fine for a sec- ond-year player battling through an in- jury that no one outside the program even knew about until after the season. He missed spring practice, too, but he's healthy again, and as one of the leaders of his position group and the defense as a whole, he'll need to take his game and leadership to another level this fall. "I've just got to put my voice more out there," Rojas told reporters this winter. "With Kobe leaving, I've got to step up to the plate on and off the field. I think I'm able to do that. Kobe and Abdul and all of them showed me how to do it." Questions To Answer Rojas has a strong track record of tak- ing the best attributes from others and applying them to himself — and not just on the football field. In a November 2024 feature for the Big Ten Network, his mother, Daniela Rojas, revealed she suf- fers from neuropathy, fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. For her, walking is a daily challenge. But that never stopped her, with help from her father, Daniel Rojas, from making sure Tony and his sisters, Briana and Lizzy, had what they needed. They all learned valuable life lessons, including those that would help shape Tony's football career. "My 'why' is my mom," Rojas told BTN. "Just how powerful and how strong she is. That's my 'why' every time I step on the field. It's important to me." The way Penn State treated Daniela when the family came to State College for an official visit is part of the reason why he chose the Lions over numerous other options. A four-star prospect in the On3 In- dustry Ranking coming out of Fairfax (Va.) High, he played in all 13 games as a freshman in 2023, seeing most of his ac- tion on special teams, before ascending to a first-team role on the defense as a sophomore. He started every game dur- ing the Nittany Lions' 13-3 campaign and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten notice. If he's able to stay healthy and con- tinue making progress, there's no telling what kind of impact he will make this fall. Penn State needs him to have a big season. After Rojas and DeLuca, there is a string of question marks in position coach Dan Connor's room. Redshirt ju- nior Keon Wylie hopes to bounce back after missing all of last year with an un- disclosed injury. Redshirt sophomore DaKaari Nelson is now in his first full year as a linebacker after transition- ing from safety and is hoping to earn more playing time. Redshirt freshman Anthony Speca had a productive debut season and will be looking to build on it in Year 2, while classmate Kari Jackson aims to carve out a role for himself. There's also a quartet of newcom- ers. Three freshmen — LaVar Arrington II, Alex Tatsch and Cam Smith — are spending the summer refining their craft and adding weight in hope of potentially contributing this fall. The fourth recent arrival is Amare Camp- bell, who transferred from North Caro- lina to Penn State with two years of eli- gibility left. The Tar Heels struggled for much of last season, but Campbell had many good moments, earning the unit's highest pass-rushing grade (84.1) and second-highest tackling grade (81.2) from PFF. Penn State is hoping that continued progress, coupled with a bet- ter supporting cast, will enable Camp- bell to reach his full potential in 2025. "He has proven production, which is the first thing that's going to jump out. When you're watching all these kids in the transfer portal, they have proven "I've just got to put my voice more out there. With Kobe [King] leaving, I've got to step up to the plate on and off the field." R O J A S