Jesse Luketa has played his last snap as a Penn State Nittany Lion.
Humblest beginnings, to achieving what they told me was too far unattainable.. Be Uncommon! pic.twitter.com/kK1GHfcPcN
— Jesse Luketa 🇨🇦🇨🇩 (@OttawasVeryOwn) January 1, 2022
Hours after Penn State’s 24-10 Outback Bowl loss to Arkansas, Luketa announced via Twitter that he won’t be using his fifth year of eligibility at Penn State and instead will declare for the 2022 NFL Draft.
“My time at Penn State has been nothing but a blessing,” the Ottawa, Ontario, native wrote. “I’d like to give God all the glory for granting me health and allowing me to live out my wildest dreams.”
Some Penn State fans might have thought that since Luketa decided to play in the Outback Bowl and since fellow Canadian Jonathan Sutherland decided to come back to Penn State in 2022, that maybe Luketa would be back for another year. It wasn’t to be.
Take a lap around the field with LB/DE Jesse Luketa as the Outback Bowl comes to a close. pic.twitter.com/SbKZXtGxkg
— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) January 1, 2022
Luketa is currently the eighth-ranked outside linebacker prospect, according to Todd McShay.
Luketa has been getting playing time since he entered the program in 2018 and became a regular starter in 2020. He ended his statement by thanking Penn State’s fans.
“It has been an honor to wear the Blue & White and enter battle in the greatest stadium in the world,” he wrote. “Beaver Stadium and Nittany Nation, I will miss you!”
