Previewing the 2025 season for Penn State LB Tony Rojas with his player profile
Going into the 2025 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will examine each player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover the player's background, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for James Franklin this season.
Dominic DeLuca is back in Happy Valley for one final season of college football. The redshirt senior will take advantage of his sixth year of eligibility provided by the NCAA as a result of the 2020 season being impacted by the pandemic. His veteran presence will be good to have as the defense undergoes a transformation on the field with new leadership in place. DeLuca has been a fun story to follow as a walk-on player to a player making plays in the College Football Playoff.
Preseason Player Profile
Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia
Height: 6-2
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
Weight: 227 lb
Class in 2025: Junior
Recruiting Rankings
Class of 2023: Consensus 4-star recruit, no. 10 LB (247Sports)
Tony Rojas was unquestionably one of the top linebackers in the Class of 2023 with a top-10 ranking from each of the major recruiting outlets. On3 and Rivals also ranked Rojas as a top 100 overall player in the nation. Rojas was the no. 2 or no. 3 player in Virginia, depending on which recruiting outlet you choose. Rojas committed to Penn State over Clemson and Virginia Tech a few weeks after an official visit to Georgia.
Career Stats
Games Tackles Sacks INT FF 2023 13 22 0 1 1 2024 16 58 1.0 3 0
Depth Chart Overview
The past couple of seasons have led some to use the term "rising star" when it comes to describing Tony Rojas. It may be time to move on from that and just label Rojas what he is: a star. Rojas has more than lived up to the hype coming out of high school and has asserted himself as one of the top performers and leaders on the Penn State defense. He will anchor one of the starting jobs at the position this fall for new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, with veteran Dominic DeLuca the other likely starter.
Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
7 hours ago
- USA Today
Former Nets F DeMarre Carroll joins Jordan Ott as assistant with Suns
The Brooklyn Nets have had plenty of players come through the franchise as the team has sought to create a winner in Brooklyn. It's no coincidence that there are some players that have found their way with other teams, either as players or as coaches, and one of Brooklyn's former players is getting another coaching job with one of the Nets' former coaches. Former Nets forward DeMarre Carroll is joining the Phoenix Suns to be a part of Jordan Ott's coaching staff ahead of the 2025-26 season, according to HoopsHype's DeMarre Carroll. Carroll played in Brooklyn from 2017 to 2019 while Ott was an assistant coach for the Nets from 2016 to 2022 as part of three different coaching staffs during his time in Brooklyn. After the Suns fired Mike Budenholzer at the end of the 2024-25 season following a disappointing 36-46 campaign, Phoenix hired Ott to be the next head coach after making through a pool of candidates that once contained Nets assistant coach Steve Hetzel. Carroll has been coaching in the NBA since the 2022-23 season, but the last time he played in the NBA was in 2020 for the Houston Rockets. Carroll had some of the best years of his career during his time with the Nets as he averaged 12.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 40.6% from the field and 35.8% from three-point land. The only time that Carroll had similar numbers to what he did with the Nets was during his two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2015. Since he got into the league as an assistant coach, Carroll has been part of coaching staffs for the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Cleveland Cavaliers. It's interesting to note that Carroll and Ott were part of Kenny Atkinson's coaching staff for the Cavaliers during the 2024-25 season when the franchise had one of the best seasons in its history. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Nick Saban Enjoys Post-Retirement Perks With Family During Latest Excursion
Nick Saban Enjoys Post-Retirement Perks With Family During Latest Excursion originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban won six national titles while in Tuscaloosa. Advertisement Now, he is enjoying the retired life with his family. The Sabans posted a picture on Instagram on Tuesday of them enjoying some quality time at Lake Burton in Georgia. The post was made by Saban's daughter-in-law, Samira. It featured Nick, Mrs. Terry, and Kristen Saban's cousin, Casey Campbell. Samira is married to Nick's son, Nicholas. Nick was with Alabama until the end of the 2023 season. He retired after losing to the Michigan Wolverines in the College Football Playoff semifinal that season. Alabama hired former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer to replace Saban. Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Since retiring from coaching college football, Saban has joined "College GameDay" as a crew member. Advertisement He works alongside Pat McAfee, Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. The pregame show recently had a major change, with longtime crew member Lee Corso retiring after last season. DeBoer's transition from Washington to Alabama has not been easy. He won nine games in his first season, something that had not been done by the Crimson Tide since 1993. While DeBoer has not had the same level of success that Saban had, the current Alabama head coach is recruiting well. The Crimson Tide have the No. 9 overall recruiting class for the 2026 cycle on On3 Sports. He recently added a commitment from west coast product Samuelu Utu, bringing DeBoer's number of commits from the 2026 class to six. The Crimson Tide were also named a finalist for safety Jireh Edwards. Advertisement The second year of the DeBoer era starts on August 30, with Alabama taking on the Florida State Seminoles. Related: Alabama Makes Final Four for Top 10 College Football Prospect This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Klubnik Cracks Top 10 Returning QBs, Eyes Heisman After Championship Season
Klubnik Cracks Top 10 Returning QBs, Eyes Heisman After Championship Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. CLEMSON, S.C. -- After leading the Clemson Tigers back to the pinnacle of the ACC and securing a College Football Playoff berth, quarterback Cade Klubnik is not just a champion, but also one of the nation's elite signal-callers heading into the 2025 season. According to the College Sports Network's advanced QB+ metric, Klubnik ranks as the seventh-best returning quarterback in college football, positioning him as a legitimate contender for the Heisman Trophy. Advertisement Klubnik's 2024 campaign was a resounding success, culminating in a dramatic ACC Championship victory over SMU where he was named the game's MVP for the second time in his career. This performance, a key factor in his impressive 82.2 (B-) QB+ grade, solidified his status as a clutch performer and a leader capable of elevating his team in high-stakes moments. The CSN QB+ metric, which weighs stable performance factors like clean pocket passing and designed rushing success more heavily, highlights the core strengths of Klubnik's game. One of his most impressive attributes is his composure under duress. Only two other returning quarterbacks in the nation posted a better pressured EPA per dropback (0.1) than Klubnik last season, a testament to his calm presence in the pocket when chaos erupts. While his overall grade was slightly dampened by a tough season-opening loss to Georgia (66.8, D grade), Klubnik's body of work speaks for itself. He consistently performed at a high level, logging four games with an 80+ grade. Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) runs on his way to scoring a game-winning fifty-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter to defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers.© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Statistically, Klubnik was prolific. He led all returning quarterbacks with an impressive 36 passing touchdowns in 2024. Within the ACC, his dominance was even more apparent. According to TruMedia, he paced all returning conference quarterbacks in total pass EPA (114.19). A constant big-play threat, Klubnik tied for the ACC lead with seven plays of 50 or more yards and recorded more 20+ yard plays (57) than any other quarterback returning to the conference in 2025. Advertisement His efficiency was also top-tier, boasting a 6.0 touchdown-to-interception ratio, second only to Georgia Tech's Haynes King among returning ACC signal-callers. As Klubnik enters his third season at the helm of Garrett Riley's offense, expectations are soaring. With another year of experience and a proven track record of success, a trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony is a realistic goal. If he can build upon his 2024 performance and continue his upward trajectory, Klubnik has the potential to not only lead Clemson to another ACC title but also contend for a national championship. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
