Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas feels comfortable and confident heading into 2024 season
If Penn State’s defense is going to replicate the high standard of play that it showed last season, sophomore linebacker Tony Rojas should end up being a major reason why. With Abdul Carter transitioning to edge rusher this year, Rojas will step into the weakside linebacker position with no shortage of expectations.
Despite only totaling around 120 snaps last year, Rojas performed well both inside the box and in pass coverage. When you include special teams, he finished with 22 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and an interception. He also played his most snaps of the season against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl and didn’t disappoint, finishing with six tackles.
“I just think he’s very comfortable. He’s very confident in the defensive scheme and his responsibilities in his role,” said head coach James Franklin when asked about Rojas Tuesday evening. “Then, physically, he’s done a really good job of changing his body. You know, sometimes they put on too much weight, and it affects your speed and quickness, and that’s not the case with him. His numbers are as good or better, and has put on significant weight.”
Now up to nearly 240 pounds, Rojas is still the fastest linebacker on Penn State’s roster. According to sources, he ran a 4.5-second 40 during testing this past spring.
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“You got to remember, he was 195 pounds when we signed him out of high school,” Franklin added. “I would say that’s probably more the model. A lot of times, these high school linebackers, and really any position, they think they have to be bigger than what they really need to be. Sometimes, having them get here lean and let us put the right weight on them, I think Tony’s a great example of that.”
No one ever questioned Rojas’ athleticism, but that doesn’t mean there’s not still plenty for him to learn and improve on ahead of the upcoming season.
“I feel like I was twitchy enough, but for me this offseason, just working on the edge, whether it’s blitzes or just packages on the edge. I feel like that’s really what I improved on,” Rojas said. “Also, just my confidence. I feel like, besides my on-the-field [performance], that has improved a lot since last season.”
Rojas is expected to see the majority of his snaps come alongside Penn State linebacker Kobe King this fall. The redshirt junior reiterated that Rojas’ confidence is where he’s seen the Fairfax, Va., native grow the most this offseason.
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“Tony has always been the same guy, a fast player and physical, but I definitely think his confidence has grown this year,” said King. “He knows that his role has changed this year and I think he’s just stepping up for us. He’s getting better every day. He’s making no mistakes or not making the same mistakes. He wants to be right all the time. He’s always got a chip on his shoulder.”
Having confidence ahead of your first season as a full-time starter is important, but if Rojas is going to reach the ceiling that many Penn State fans and media members expect this fall, it’ll require him to also not let outside opinions impact that confidence that he’s built. After all, no player is perfect. Even the very best find themselves making mistakes at times.
Fortunately for Tom Allen and his entire defensive staff, Rojas appears to have the right mindset.
“I mean, for me, I’m not really a big media guy. I kind of don’t focus on that stuff, [so] I’m just focusing on the main thing, which is being a great teammate and playing my role,” he said.
