Tom Allen couldn’t help but crack a smile when he heard two words: “Tony Rojas.”
Allen, Penn State’s new defensive coordinator, has a lot of talent at his fingertips for the 2024 season. Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton are potential first-round picks off the edge. Kevin Winston Jr. is one of the best safeties in college football. The list goes on. But Rojas, a breakout candidate at linebacker, might be the most intriguing player Allen has to work with.
Rojas is only a sophomore. But with Carter moving to defensive end, the youngster is slated to start this fall. And after an impressive freshman year, Rojas has entered preseason camp poised to do more than just start. He might be the next star at Linebacker U.
“He’s a very focused, serious guy that is on a mission,” Allen told PennLive at last weekend’s media day. “… I always challenge our defensive players to be that guy that does a little bit more than what’s required or expected. And he’s always doing something extra. Guys like that who figure that out early in their college career, they become really special.”
Rojas has the potential to do that. And in a confident but not cocky way, he knows it.
Asked where he sees himself on the defense, Rojas said without hesitation: “I see myself starting.” But the Virginia native also recognizes that he still has room to grow.
Rojas played in all 13 games in a backup role in 2023, but made an impact in limited snaps. Rojas had 21 tackles, 3 1/2 TFLs, a forced fumble and an interception as a true freshman. He made watching “garbage time” worthwhile and showed flashes of what could come.
Those flashes — those “wow” moments — were notable. But perhaps more vital to his ascension, Rojas has approached the behind-the-scenes work with vigor and intent.
Rojas, a former four-star prospect, enrolled at Penn State last January weighing just under 200 pounds. Now, he’s listed on the roster at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds — a credit to both Penn State’s strength and conditioning program and Rojas’ commitment.
Strength coach Chuck Losey said in May that when players arrive on campus and add that kind of weight, their movement and speed typically suffer. “Not Tony,” Losey said.
“When you’re his size and you run as fast as he does, that’s not normal,” Allen added. “And honestly, he’s still young. He has so much more to go to. But you know he’s going to get there because of all the things he’s doing.”
Last year was crucial for Rojas in understanding how to prepare. He learned from longtime starting linebacker Curtis Jacobs, who, before his final game in the Peach Bowl, said Rojas is “ready to take over” in 2024. Rojas picked the minds of Carter and Winston, trying to glean whatever he could from two of Penn State’s top talents. And he continues to do that with other veterans in the linebacker room like Kobe King, Dominic DeLuca and Tyler Elsdon.
“Just because my role is going up doesn’t mean I have to stop asking questions,” Rojas said.
At the same time, Rojas is assuming more of a leadership role. In June, Losey said Rojas positioned himself as “an authoritative voice” on the defense during summer workouts. “You hear Tony. You feel Tony,” Losey added. “The impact that he has mentally and emotionally as a catalyst to the other guys around him, that’s starting to match his trend physically.”
From garbage time to taking the stage in primetime, all signs point to Rojas being ready for the moment, one he doesn’t take lightly. Rojas is “grateful” for and “humbled” by the opportunity he has in front of him, especially at a program like Penn State with such a rich history at linebacker. But Rojas also made sure to note that none of this happened by accident.
“To be in this position as a linebacker at this school, it’s crazy to think about,” Rojas said. “But for me, I had that mindset coming in. My heart and my headspace is just that I’m a dog, and I should play like that. I’m excited for this.”
