One of Penn State footballโs leaders will be back for the 2025 season.
Wednesday afternoon, Dom DeLuca, a linebacker/special teams ace, announced via Instagram that heโs coming back for what will be his fifth season at Penn State and, presumably, third as a team captain.
There havenโt been many Penn State players with a better story than DeLuca.
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. DeLucaโs performance in high school earned him a chance to walk on at Penn State.
In that state title game, he tore his ACL.
So he came to Penn State having to fight, and thatโs what the walk-on turned starter has done.
DELUCAโS FINEST HOUR

Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Dom DeLuca
DeLucaโs finest hour took place during his first College Football Playoff game.
Penn State LB Dom DeLuca was the star of Saturdayโs 38-10 College Football Playoff win over SMU.
First, he opened the scoringโ and, it turned out, the floodgatesโ with a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter.
He wasnโt done yet.
In the second quarter, with SMU having a second and goal at the seven, DeLuca came up big again.
This one didnโt go to the house, but it did give Penn Stateโs offense the ball back. It ended up dashing in with a nine-play, 75-yard TD drive that made it 21-0 and effectively put the game to bed.
If you ask anybody on Penn Stateโs roster or coaching staff, it couldnโt have happened to someone more deserving.
THERE WONโT BE MANY MORE LIKE HIM
Maybe the only sad thing about DeLucaโs success story is that there wonโt be many, if any, more like it down the road.
Because the NCAA is increasing scholarship sizes from 85 to 105, walk-on success stories like DeLucaโs could become less prevalent,
โWhat a shame that there may not be more stories like this in college football with the 105 rule,โ Franklin said. โDom DeLuca may not happen at Penn State. I love Dom and Mom and Dad. I think heโs a tremendous example for all of our players on the team.โ
Penn State takes on Nevada Aug. 30 at Beaver Stadium to open its 2025 season.
