Spring practice is over for Penn State football and there’s well over three months before fall camp starts.
In other words, it’s “All 105 Season.”
This series will take a look at every single player on Penn State’s roster, whether it’s a scholarship athlete or a walk-on.
The articles will go in numerical order, starting with No. 0, LB Dom DeLuca.
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 220 pounds
Hometown: West Pittson, Pennsylvania
Before Penn State: An in-state product, DeLuca was a three-time team captain and a quarterback at Wyoming Area High School. As a senior, he helped lead Wyoming to its first state championship, throwing two touchdowns in a 21-14 win over Central Valley. His senior year performance earned him multiple accolades, including Class 3A Player of the Year by the PA Football Writers. DeLuca also starred on defense, ending his career with 12 interceptions and 201 tackles. DeLuca’s performance in high school earned him a chance to walk on at Penn State.
2021: DeLuca redshirted his first season but got into three games on special teams, making his college debut in the team’s home opener against Ball State Week 2. DeLuca’s performance on the practice field earned him the Developmental Squad’s Defensive Player of the Year, an honor he shared with Jordan van den Berg and Jaden Seider.
2022: Still a walk-on, DeLuca took on an increased role in Year 2, playing in all 13 games, mainly on special teams. Defensively, he ended the season with 29 tackles (18 solo, two for loss and got his first college sack at Rutgers Nov. 19. Perhaps the best individual play of DeLuca’s season came against Minnesota Oct. 23, when he blocked a punt during Penn State’s White Out.
Last year: Penn State named DeLuca a special teams captain before the season and gave him the “No. 0” to signify that he’s the special teams leader. He lived up to that billing, winning the team’s John Bruno Award— named for the late punter on the 1986 national champions— presented to PSU’s top special teams player. But DeLuca’s contributions weren’t limited to special teams. He became a regular contributor on Penn State’s defense, ending the year with 29 tackles, a sack, 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions— including a pick-6 against Delaware, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups and a blocked punt against UMass. Pro Football Focus gave DeLuca a 90.7 grade for the regular season, which was .1 points behind probable first-round draft pick Chop Robinson as the team’s highest-rated defensive players. That’s pretty good, eh?
Where he stands: DeLuca isn’t projected to start on Penn State’s defense. Up-and-coming sophomore Tony Rojas is expected to start at SAM linebacker with DeLuca backing him up. But like last season, DeLuca should get plenty of playing time, and his special teams contributions will be back, too. With Curtis Jacobs going to the NFL and Abdul Carter moving to defensive end, Penn State’s linebackers room will need leadership, and DeLuca will provide that.
A quote by DeLuca: ”We have great linebackers,” outside linebacker Dom DeLuca said Wednesday. “We have a lot of depth and a lot of young kids, too. It’s going to be a competition. Everyone is hungry to play.” — DeLuca in April 2024 on the competition in Penn State’s LB room.
A quote about DeLuca: ”He’s a really good example of somebody that’s coming to Penn State and maximizing this experience, both academically and athletically,” Coach James Franklin said last August
