Penn State football gains 3rd commitment in July with 4-star linebacker Tony Rojas

Story posted July 14, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Alex Rocco

The tradition of Penn State landing top linebackers continued on Thursday afternoon.

Four-star linebacker Tony Rojas committed to the blue and white and is one of its top-rated players in a loaded 2023 class.

Rojas is the No. 18 player to join James Franklin’s class and ranks as the No. 107 player in the nation, according to the 247 Sports rankings.

Many of the Nittany Lion pledges mentioned that the program feels like family, and Rojas is no different.

“Penn State talks to me the most, and I talk to them the most,” Rojas said in an interview back in March. “Penn State is still [at] the top for me. They text my parents and my family the most. They check in to see how they are and are family-oriented.”

With 18 verbal commitments in the current recruiting cycle, Rojas fills a major need for the blue and white, marking its first linebacker commit in the class.

He stands at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, but his long and lean frame will allow him to add more bulk which will be a necessary step in his development.

Penn State is hoping to go back-to-back and land its second commit at the position in as many days after not landing any during the first six months of the year.

Pittsburgh four-star Ta’Mere Robinson is scheduled to do so tomorrow night and is rated the 13th best linebacker in the nation.

As for Rojas, he is the eighth-best linebacker in the class and the No. 3 player from Virginia.

With his commitment, the Nittany Lions have landed two of the three top players from Virginia, joining five-star Alex Birchmeier.

In high school, the Fairfax, Virginia, native plays both running back and linebacker and did so at an extremely high level in his junior campaign.

Rojas finished with an impressive 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns, while on defense, he recorded 40 tackles, including seven sacks.

Rojas is a heat-seeking missile who can cover ground in a hurry, which should make him an asset at one of the outside linebacker positions. His physical gifts allow him to play in coverage and space rather than being an inside-the-box linebacker.

Penn State beat out both Georgia and Clemson to secure his services after an outstanding official visit back in June.

With the addition of Rojas, the blue and white continue to add to its impressive class that ranks top six in the country.

Alex Rocco is a rising third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email alex.rocco1702@gmail.com.