All 105 is a Nittany Sports Now series profiling each Penn State football player. Here is a profile of true freshman linebacker Tony Rojas.
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 225 pounds
Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia
Before Penn State: Rojas comes to Penn State as arguably the most hyped player in the school’s 2023 Class. The four-star recruit was a standout at both linebacker and running back. He won All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year as a senior. Rojas put up video game numbers offensively. He ran for 2,239 yards and 35 touchdowns. But his bread and butter was on the other side of the ball. Rojas ended his senior season with 72 tackles (14 for loss), 13 sacks, forcing five fumbles and breaking up four passes. He committed to Penn State in July. Rojas picked the school over Clemson, Georgia, Maryland and Virginia Tech, among others.
Where he stands: Coming into last season, linebacker was the area of Penn State’s defense fans worried about the most. That isn’t the case in 2023. Curtis Jacobs and Abdul Carter are expected to be one of the best linebacking duos in the country. Tyler Elsdon and Kobe King will provide experience and leadership at the MIKE. Rojas isn’t alone in the ‘23 Class. Ta’Mere Robinson (Pittsburgh) and Kaveion Keys (Richmond, Virginia) are also four stars that Penn State and its fans are excited about.
Penn State is deep enough at linebacker that, if all goes well, Rojas and his classmates won’t be needed to much. But as Carter showed last season, true freshman are capable of dominating at linebacker, and if one young LB going to do it this year, Rojas is the best bet.
A quote by Rojas: “I think my mom has the most impact on where I’m going. She likes the location because it’s not too far from home and if I go there, it’s not too close to home and it’s not too far from home.” — Rojas to 247Sports after his commitment to Penn State.
A quote about Rojas: ”He has put on 29 pounds since he’s been here, and it’s good weight. I don’t know how that is necessarily possible, but he has put on 29 pounds. Every time I got to the nutrition bar he is sitting there eating— after practice he is getting an extra pump in, and he is playing fast and carrying the weight really well.” — coach James Franklin to reporters this past spring on Rojas’ body transformation
