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D'Anton Lynn raving about Tony Rojas should have Penn State fans fired up for his return

The Nittany Lion linebacker is ready for Saturdays and has the new coaching staff anticipating his return.
BySydney Ciano|
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Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas listens to strength and conditioning coach Reid Kagy (not pictured) during the 23rd annual Lift for Life at Holuba Hall, July 1, 2026, in State College. Players and coaches raised a combined $40,000 to support the rare disease community.
Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas listens to strength and conditioning coach Reid Kagy (not pictured) during the 23rd annual Lift for Life at Holuba Hall, July 1, 2026, in State College. Players and coaches raised a combined $40,000 to support the rare disease community. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

With everything "new" going on for Penn State football, there are a few Nittany Lions in particular who are itching for their return onto the field. Linebacker Tony Rojas is one of them.

Rojas sustained a leg injury at the start of the 2025 season. He played in just four games, and leading up to Penn State's matchup with UCLA is when his leg contusion from Week 5 vs. Oregon resulted in a torn ACL.

The linebacker was projected to be a key player on the Nittany Lions' defense, and his stats from his extremely abbreviated season were proof. Rojas logged 25 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one pass defended. Losing him resulted in quite a few defensive mishaps for Penn State, and opposing offenses capitalized on his absence.

Since then, Rojas' injury rehab has gone according to plan. He had surgery at the end of October and spent the winter and spring in recovery. His dedication and loyalty to the blue and white never faltered in the meantime, speaking on his support for head coach Matt Campbell and the culture he's instilling into Penn State's locker room.

Rojas' character and tape were already things Campbell and his staff could rave about, but now that he's officially back in action and practicing with the team this summer, they have even more to get excited about.

"I had no idea he was that big," new defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn told Thomas Frank Carr of On3.

Penn State defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn is ready for linebacker Tony Rojas to get out on the field

Lynn's recent praise of Rojas comes directly after strength coach Reid Kagy discussed the linebacker's progress. Rojas participated in Penn State's Life for Life fundraising event, and Kagy spoke with reporters about his impressive leadership and rehab.

The Nittany Lions felt Rojas' absence in 2025. Though one player didn't determine the fate of their season, he certainly was a tough guy to replace.

With a new coaching staff in place, Lynn's anticipation for Rojas' 2026 season should have Penn State fans ready for his return. The campaign he was expected to have as a junior is on the horizon.

He joins redshirt seniors Caleb Bacon and John Klosterman, senior Kooper Ebel, junior Cael Brezina, and sophomore Alex Tatsch — to name a few — in that linebacker room. All four of those players were Iowa State transfers this offseason.

While they're also a few of the names Penn State fans are excited to see in the blue and white for the first time, Rojas is arguably the most exciting linebacker to see. His projected success has been long overdue, and even the new staff can't wait to see him out there on Saturdays.

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