Penn State's College Football Playoff win over SMU featured another story that may never happen again
Penn State absolutely annihilated and embarrassed SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday 38-10. Everything was working for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions as the victory was never in doubt after the first quarter.Drew Allar made enough clutch decisions as a passer. Both Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen dominated […]
Penn State absolutely annihilated and embarrassed SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday 38-10. Everything was working for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions as the victory was never in doubt after the first quarter.
Drew Allar made enough clutch decisions as a passer. Both Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen dominated on the ground with 90 and 70 rushing yards apiece. Both edge rushers Abdul Carter and Dani-Dennis Sutton destroyed the SMU offensive line, creating pressure for Mustangs QB Kevin Jennings all game. But the real MVP? Former walk-on turned College Football Playoff star Dominic DeLuca.
And as James Franklin talked about after the game, stories and players like Dominic DeLuca may not happen in the near future due to more upcoming rule changes in college football.
When the game was still young, scoreless through the first eight minutes, star linebacker Dominic DeLuca read Kevin Jennings' eyes as he was sitting back in zone coverage. He stepped up, and immediately picked off the pass running it back for a touchdown as you can see in the post below.
DeLuca wasn't done there either. He went on to intercept Kevin Jennings again later in the first half, stopping the SMU offense short on a drive that likely would have ended in points.
DeLuca finished the contest with two interceptions, a pick six, a half sack, and five total tackles. He was asked about his keys to success after the game and he shared how playing quarterback in high school helps him play defense at a higher level now:
"Growing up at quarterback, being able to read defenses was a big part for me. Now being on the defensive side, that's helped me read quarterbacks better, read offenses better. Identifying formations, plays."
Dominic DeLuca has come a long way since he first joined the Penn State program in 2021. When he got to Happy Valley he didn't have a scholarship. He had to earn that as a walk-on.
Penn State head coach James Franklin was asked about Dominic DeLuca and his knack for stepping up when Penn State needs a big play after the game. He couldn't help but lament the fact that stories like Dominic DeLuca may not happen at schools like Penn State now that college football rule changes are assuredly going to impact walk-ons:
"[Dominic DeLuca] just a baller. You're talking about a guy who was Pennsylvania player of the year. Won a state championship on a torn ACL. Gray-shirted to be able to come here. Came as a walk-on. Earned a scholarship. What a shame there may not be more stories like this in college football with the 105 rule. Dom DeLuca may not happen at Penn State [anymore]."
For fans who are unfamiliar, the new "105 rule" as James Franklin called it is a part of the new revenue sharing model set to being July 1st of 2025. The scholarship limit will actually rise from 85 to 105. However, walk-ons will have no role in this future because players on the team will need to be compensated by the school via revenue sharing.
In this new world Dominic DeLuca very likely would not have been granted an initial roster spot with the Penn State team at all back in 2021. And in the future, even if "underdog" type players do succeed, they won't be true walk-on stories like before.
Franklin continued:
"I love Dom and [his] mom and dad. I think he's a tremendous example for all the players on our team. He's got a smile on his face. He's appreciative. He works his tail off. [He] trusted us when we talked about the positions that we wanted to play him in. And whatever role we've asked him to do he's done it 100 miles per hour. So there's a ton of changes in college football. But this is one that I'm struggling with. Because there's been so many special stories over the years of walk-ons. Whether they've earned a scholarship or not they've been just such a significant part of the game and our history So it breaks my heart a little bit that maybe Dom[inic DeLuca] isn't here if this rule were in place [before]."
It will be strange to live in a world where true walk-on stories in FBS football just disappear, but that's where we're heading. Hopefully long shot, bottom of the roster, kind of players are celebrated in a similar way in the future, but it certainly won't feel the same. Dominic DeLuca is truly one of the last in a dying breed among the best stories in college football. And his story isn't finished being told with Penn State just yet thanks much in part to his huge day against SMU in round one of the College Football Playoff.
We'll be back with more Penn State coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
