It might be unlikely that former Penn State linebacker/defensive end Jesse Luketa will choose the CFL over the NFL, but now he has the option.
Luketa, whose Twitter handle is @OttawsVeryOwn, went to the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft, and Tuesday night, went to the hometown Ottawa Redblacks in the second round with the 20th overall pick— a “territorial pick”— in the Canadian Football League draft.
.@OttawasVeryOwn pic.twitter.com/QsFghMDF3v
— Ottawa REDBLACKS (@REDBLACKS) May 4, 2022
Luketa played at Penn State from 2018-21, and started throughout his final two seasons. In his senior season, Luketa switched from linebacker to defensive end and received third-team All-Big Ten honors from the media and honorable mention honors from the coaches. He finished his Penn State career with 151 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss in 46 games.
Should Luketa eventually decide to come back home and play in the CFL, the Redblacks will have his rights. For now, however, Penn State fans hope he becomes a seventh-round steal for the Cardinals.