There may only be one on the record, but Penn State suffered multiple losses against Oregon last week in Happy Valley. Beyond coming up short in the game, Penn State suffered a major blow on the depth chart with a long-term injury to junior linebacker Tony Rojas.
The veteran has started 20 games in his Penn State career, a full-time starter for former defensive coordinator Tom Allen as a true sophomore last season, and a key piece for new DC Jim Knowles through the first four games of 2025.
Without Rojas, Knowles was forced to give second-year captain and former walk-on Dominic DeLuca an increased workload next to North Carolina transfer Amare Campbell. However, early in the Nittany Lions’ disastrous start to Week 6 against UCLA, allowing 24 points in the first half, DeLuca suffered a shoulder injury and had to be removed from the game.
True freshman Cam Smith took the field as DeLuca’s replacement in the red zone. Now, Smith could be in the spotlight on Saturday.
True freshman linebacker Cam Smith replaces Dom DeLuca in Week 6 vs UCLA
The 6-foot, 215-pound linebacker was a four-star recruit out of St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia, the No. 11 overall recruit in Pennsylvania. With Penn State's lingering injury issues at the position, James Franklin highlighted Smith and fellow true freshman four-star Alex Tatsch heading into the matchup with UCLA. Tatsch was rated as the No. 8 overall recruit in PA last year, but has evidently been passed on the depth chart by Smith.
Tatsch had gotten the nod earlier in the year, playing 16 snaps across appearances in two of Penn State's four games. Smith had not seen the field prior to Week 6, but figures to have significant playing time, unless DeLuca is able to return.
Both Smith and Tatsch could become important parts of Knowles's defense this season. Penn State desperately needs to find an answer next to Campbell after a loss to Oregon and an awful defensive start in the first half against UCLA.
The only potential silver-lining for Penn State is that Knowles began to implement a three-safety structure at Ohio State last season and has carried that over to Penn State, with Zakee Wheatley acting as the middle safety between King Mack and Dejuan Lane. That allows Penn State to play just two linebackers and still have multiple players in the second level of the defense.
UPDATE: DeLuca returns from injury
DeLuca was able to return for the Nittany Lions before the half. UCLA holds a 27-7 lead at the break.