Top linebacker target Tony Rojas commits to Penn State Football

Penn State football added another key member to the 2023 class on Thursday with the addition of Tony Rojas.

Tony Rojas became the newest member of Penn State’s 2023 recruiting class on Thursday afternoon.

The 4-star linebacker announced his decision in front of family and friends at his high school.

This is another massive addition for James Franklin, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and the Nittany Lions.

Rojas is rated as the No. 8 linebacker in the country and had the likes of Clemson, Miami and Georgia after him hard. In the end, his long-standing relationship with the Nittany Lions won out.

Penn State first offered Rojas last July and has been building a relationship with him ever since. The other top competitors didn’t offer until this past winter, giving the Nittany Lions an almost seven-month advantage.

Listed at 6-foot-1.5 and 200 pounds, Rojas is an elite athlete who also shines on offense and on the basketball court. While he has the size and physicality to play the WILL linebacker position, he also has the range and cover skills to play the SAM.

His versatility is what made him one of the more intriguing linebacker options in the country in the 2023 cycle.

Penn State’s staff deserves a pat on the back for how they handled this recruitment. Rojas wasn’t highly ranked when Penn State offered him, but since then, he’s risen from the No. 421 player in the country to No. 107. Another example of Penn State identifying elite talent before others.

Diaz and the defensive staff are hoping to pair Rojas with Ta’Mere Robinson, who will make his college decision on Friday.

This one arguably Penn State’s biggest recruiting win since landing Dani Dennis-Sutton last July, and this was one they needed to win. Linebacker depth had gotten low over the past few seasons and badly needed to be replenished.

With Rojas on board, Penn State’s 2023 class has 18 commits and ranks fifth nationally.