Another loss rolled in for the Penn State Nittany Lions even after their heartbreaking defeat to Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks
The Penn State Nittany Lions suffered another difficult loss to the Oregon Ducks last weekend. That isn’t the only loss for them over the last few days.
Head Coach James Franklin continued his running trend of losing big games for the Penn State Nittany Lions over the weekend against the Oregon Ducks, coming out on the losing end by a score of 30 to 24. With that loss, Franklin now holds a 4-21 record against Top-10 teams in his career. While the team showed some resiliency in that contest, it’s hard to feel overly positive about the trajectory of the team with that resume.
As it turns out, the Oregon game wasn’t the only big loss recently for the Penn State program. It was also announced that junior linebacker Tony Rojas would be out with a long-term injury. The exact injury and timetable for Rojas were not disclosed. There is no telling when the talented defender will be returning to the team after the practice injury. It is a tough blow for a very talented Nittany Lion defensive group.
The 6-2, 230-pound linebacker currently ranks second on the team behind Amare Campbell with 25 total tackles. Rojas is also tied with Dani Dennis-Sutton for the team lead with 4.5 tackles for loss. The Virginia native has also collected two sacks and one pass breakup for the defense. The versatility that Rojas possesses provides a lot of big-play ability for the Nittany Lions.
Rojas is in his second year as a starter after playing mostly special teams as a freshman in 2023. During his three-year career, Rojas has managed to record 105 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, four interceptions, and five pass breakups. He is a vocal leader for this Penn State team and brings a ton of energy while making plays from the second level.
How do you replace Tony Rojas?
With Rojas out indefinitely, the expectation is for Dominic Deluca to slide into the starting lineup next to Campbell. The senior brings a lot of experience, which is a great asset for Penn State while dealing with this tough loss. There is also an expectation that freshmen Cam Smith and Alex Tatsch will be prepared to play as well. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has a complicated defense, and those freshmen will have to figure things out quickly to create more depth.
While the junior linebacker recovers from the injury, Penn State should lean on the other top defenders on that unit. That includes Dennis-Sutton and defensive tackle Zane Durant, who are the playmakers up front for the Nittany Lions. Behind Rojas, cornerback AJ Harris and safety Zakee Wheatley also make a ton of plays. This team has the necessary supporting cast to absorb the tough blow.
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