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Reading Eagle, Pa.
Penn State’s Tony Rojas has rebounded quite nicely from his injury
- Story byReading Eagle, Pa.
- Penn State’s Tony Rojas has rebounded quite nicely from his injury
Tony Rojas was determined to be ready for Penn State's season opener against Marshall, less than one year after the severe knee injury he suffered in practice.
He doggedly worked during his rehabilitation to regain the speed and quickness that has helped him become one of the top linebackers in the Big Ten.
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But Nittany Lions coach Matt Campbell, his staff and Rojas' best friends on the team never expected him to be at full strength in the first game.
"I didn't really think about that," Rojas said when asked if he worried about playing too many snaps early this season. "The first one or two games I had a snap count. When I hit my snap count, I was like, 'Nah, I need to play.' I don't like sitting on the sideline.
"At that point, I think we got things rolling. I was already comfortable and I felt confident with my knee. I knew once the season hit I'd be good."
Rojas has been better than good; he's been great, one of the few bright spots in what has been a disappointing season for Penn State so far. He leads the Lions in tackles (56), tackles for loss (10.5), sacks (5) and interceptions (2). He's in the top 10 in the Big Ten in each category.
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He was named to a pair of Midseason All-America teams by On3 and The Associated Press.
That's despite playing for his fourth defensive coordinator, D'Anton Lynn, and in his fourth different scheme in his four seasons.
At Penn State, Lynn played with such great linebackers NaVorro Bowman, Sean Lee and Michael Mauti. He believes Rojas is in their class.
"He definitely has the talent," Lynn said. "He's one of the most athletic inside backers I've seen, not just at Penn State but in general. (When) you watch him do drills or watch him do anything in space, he's fluid, he's fast, he's explosive."
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Rojas arrived at Penn State in January 2023 as a four-star prospect who added 25 pounds or so in his first several months on campus to be big enough to play linebacker in college.
He played in every game as a freshman as a reserve and on special teams before becoming a starter in 2024. That year, he played through an upper-body injury and received All-Big Ten honorable mention.
He returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown against SMU in a first-round College Football Playoff game, his signature moment at Penn State to this point.
Last year was a disaster for him and the Lions. His season ended the Tuesday after the double-overtime loss to Oregon when he suffered a non-contact knee injury.
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After Penn State fired James Franklin and hired Matt Campbell, he decided to stay mostly because Campbell retained former All-American linebacker Dan Connor on his staff.
"He'll come to me and tell me what I need to fix," Rojas said. "I'm approachable and coachable. He knows that. I just want to hear the truth. He does a good job with that. I'm super grateful to have him for my whole four years."
Rojas has become a fan favorite, receiving the loudest ovation during player introductions at Beaver Stadium. But he, Campbell and Lynn believe there's room for him to grow the rest of the season.
"Tony has done some great things," Campbell said. "It's been really awesome. As we know, he's a great catalyst when he's at his best. There are some areas where he can continue to improve. He knows that."
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Campbell and Lynn credited Rojas with how he practiced last week even though the Lions had a bye. Campbell said his purpose and intent rubbed off on the younger players.
He still marvels at Rojas' recovery and that he has played at such a high level all season.
"Tony worked really hard to come back from what's a tough injury for anybody, especially a linebacker," Campbell said. "The pace at which he came back, there have been some wild moments for Tony, for sure.
"I've never met a great player that doesn't want to play or be on the field. 'I'm not rotating with anybody. I'm staying on the field if you try to sub for me. I'm not letting you do that.' That's Tony to a T."
