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Former walk-on linebacker Dominic DeLuca scores on pick-six for Penn State

Matt Connollyby:Matt Connolly09/09/23

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(Taetsch/Getty Images)

Penn State linebacker Dominic DeLuca, a former walk-on who is now on scholarship, got in on the scoring action for Penn State on Saturday against Delaware.

The Nittany Lions redshirt sophomore picked off Delaware quarterback Zach Marker and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown to give the Nittany Lions a 56-7 lead. Penn State went on to win the game 63-7. DeLuca also had a pass break-up on Saturday.

You can watch the great pick-six by Dominic DeLuca below:

This isn’t the first time DeLuca has made a big play for the Nittany Lions. He blocked a punt last season against Minnesota, recording the first blocked punt for the Nittany Lions since 2019.

In total last season, Dominic DeLuca appeared in all 13 games. He made 29 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup in 2022.

DeLuca, who is a Pennsylvania native, was named Penn State’s Developmental Squad Defensive Player of the Year as a true freshman in 2021.

Joel Klatt explains why Penn State fans should feel giddy about 2023 season

Penn State continues to roll in 2023 as the Nittany Lions put together another impressive performance on Saturday.

Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt said leading up to the game that he loves this Penn State team and believes it has a lot of potential.

“If I was Penn State right now how would I feel if I was a fan? I would feel giddy. Yeah, I would feel giddy,” Klatt said on his show this week.

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Penn State opened the season with an impressive win over West Virginia. Per Klatt, the somewhat lackluster performances by Ohio State and Michigan are also positive signs for the Nittany Lions.

“You know why I would feel giddy? Because I would feel pretty confident based on what I saw, not only out of my team at Penn State, but also around the Big Ten that I’m rooting for a team that is no longer just clearly third in that division based on Week 1. If I’m a Nittany Lion fan, I’m giddy at the fact that it’s pretty clear this is an absolute three-team race in the East.”

Klatt admitted that the Wolverines still have to be the favorites in the game against Penn State after how their recent contests have gone. However, he thinks Ohio State is extremely vulnerable.

“I still think I would favor Michigan. Fine, okay Penn State fans, I think you would even have to agree with that in particular with what they did against you in Ann Arbor last year running the football.

“But with what Ohio state did at Indiana and the way that their offensive line looked in particular and their quarterback issue is kind of seeping into now Week 2 of the college football season.”