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WATCH: Nittany Lions defensive end one-handed pick six

Nakos updated headshotby:Pete Nakos•09/11/21•

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Jesse Luketa
The Penn State defender can do it all. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Jesse Luketa is an versatile defender for Penn State. The senior moves from linebacker to defensive end. With a 6-foot-3, 247-pound frame, he can get off the edge fast or play in open space.

Luketa showed what he can do as a pass rusher Saturday. Lining up as a defensive end against Ball State, he kept his eyes focused on the quarterback and rolled to his left when the Cardinals gunslinger went to throw.

He stuck out his hand when Ball State attempted to dump it off to its running back, intercepting the ball and taking it to the house. The score put the Nittany Lions up 31-6 in the third quarter.

On Jesse Luketa

Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Luketa was a key part of Penn State’s defense last season. As a junior he was selected as a team captain and started in nine games, finishing with 59 tackles, the second most on the team. He also had 2.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and three pass breakups. His best game came against Rutgers, when he registered a career-high 10 tackles.

In the Nittany Lions’ season opening win at Wisconsin, the versatile defender made four stops and tallied a quarterback hit. The Penn State defense held the Badgers to just 10 points.

Playing at Happy Valley comes with disadvantages for Nittany Lions

Penn State head coach James Franklin had to contemplate a peculiar question on earlier this week: Are there any homefield disadvantages? 

During a home game, the crowd is typically loud to serve as a distraction for the visiting offense. The only problem? The Penn State defense needs to get on the same page as well. 

“They’re not used to having to communicate over the noise,” Franklin said. “They don’t get it in practice very often, and then obviously when you’re on the road, you don’t really deal with that a whole lot.”

Next, the Penn State coach turned to the issues that happen beyond the gridiron: the traffic, the “buzz in town,” finding tickets and lodging for visitors.

“Obviously we have a higher percentage of friends and families in town, and if you’re not careful as a young player, those things can be a distraction,” Franklin added. “There’s just a lot of things.”

Saturday’s game marks the season opener at Beaver Stadium, too. Franklin admitted running onto the field on a Saturday in Happy Valley brings its own share of pregame distractions.

“Then obviously running through Beaver Stadium, as much as we’ve tried to get them used to it. For a lot of guys, even transfer first-year players, it’s going to be a different experience,” Franklin said.