Penn State LB Tony Rojas suffers long-term injury. Here’s what we know
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Coach Franklin confirms long-term injury to LB Tony Rojas; season status uncertain.
- Rojas ranked second in tackles, tied for TFLs and sacks; defense loses playmaker.
- Dom DeLuca will step into starter role; staff may burn redshirts for freshmen.
Penn State starting linebacker Tony Rojas is out with a long-term injury, head coach James Franklin acknowledged Wednesday evening, indicating the possibility he might be lost for the season.
Franklin does not usually communicate injuries to the media. So, when he does acknowledge a long-term injury, it typically means the injury is serious enough to warrant the player missing multiple weeks at minimum — if not the entire season.
Blue-White Illustrated reported his return at any point this season “appears unlikely.”
It wasn’t immediately clear what the nature of the injury was, or when exactly Rojas was injured. He played the entirety of Saturday’s loss to Oregon. He also had an upper-body injury in the offseason after playing “most of last year with an injury,” Franklin said in August.
Rojas’ absence will be felt immediately in the Nittany Lions’ 4-2-5 defense, especially considering linebacker depth has been a concern since spring ball. The junior was second on the team in tackles (25), tied for first in tackles for loss (4.5) and tied for first in sacks (2). He also had two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup as the weakside linebacker.
Franklin was more direct when asked about his plan to replace Rojas, who started alongside UNC transfer and MLB Amare Campbell.
“Obviously, Dom (DeLuca) will step into that role,” the head coach said after practice Wednesday, “and then, obviously, we’re having discussions about greenlighting possibly both (Alex) Tatsch and Cam (Smith).”
DeLuca, a redshirt senior, effectively operated as the Nittany Lions’ No. 3 ‘backer this season. He played in 15 games last season — along with five starts — and finished with 40 tackles and three interceptions. So far in 2025, he boasts 12 stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and a blocked kick
Tatsch and Smith are both true freshmen and, by “greenlighting,” Franklin meant burning their respective redshirts. Other linebackers to see time this season and to potentially vye for more playing time include Dakarri Nelson, Anthony Speca and Keon Wylie.
DeLuca and Co. will have a few weeks to get acclimated before the competition gets tougher. The Nittany Lions will visit UCLA this weekend and host Northwestern the next — two games they’ll be heavily favored in — before visiting the Iowa Hawkeyes, taking a week off and traveling to Ohio State for Nov. 1.
This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 7:58 PM.
