Tony Rojas has already forced his way into the center of Penn State’s defense, and now the message coming out of the program is that there may still be another gear.
After opening the season on a snap count, Rojas’ role expanded in the first couple weeks and his production kept climbing with it. The result: Penn State’s standout on either side of the ball through the first half of the season, plus an AP Midseason All-America second-team nod that reflects how much ground he’s covered.
Still, D’Anton Lynn says Rojas is nowhere near a finished product.
“He's one of the most athletic inside backers I've seen, not just talking about Penn State, but just in general,” Lynn said Tuesday.
Lynn’s view is that Rojas has “another level” he can tap into, and Penn State is hoping to unlock it over the next couple games. Rojas sounds just as convinced that there’s more in the tank.
“I think I've been playing at a good level,” Rojas said. “Obviously, kind of hard on myself, so I know I have a lot to improve on, a lot of things to work on. During the bye week and going forward, just watching films, I know I can be better at things… I'd say obviously I've been playing well, but I think I have a lot more to show.”
What he has shown so far has been loud. Rojas leads the team with 56 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, and the numbers back up the eye test on a defense that keeps finding ways to feature him.
A big reason is simple: he wants to be on the field. Now fully recovered from the knee injury that ended his 2025 season, Rojas has made it clear he’d rather play than watch, even if that means logging upward of 60 snaps in a game.
“I've never met a great player that doesn't want to play or be on the field,” Matt Campbell said. “I think every great player I've been around, ‘I'm not rotating with anybody, I'm staying on the field and if you try to sub me in, I'm not letting you do that.’ And that's I think Tony to a T.”
Rojas echoed that feeling when he talked about the first two weeks, when he was still being managed carefully.
“But at that point when I was at my snap count, I was like, ‘Nah, I need to play,’” Rojas said. “I don't like standing on the sideline, so I think at that point I think we got things rolling.”
He’s also found a way to make his presence felt in Lynn’s scheme when he’s attacking the quarterback. Rojas said working against the interior of the offensive line suits him best as a pass rusher, and that has shown up in his five sacks.
Even when he’s not out there, his influence hasn’t disappeared. Yvan Kemajou pointed to the confidence Rojas brings to the defense, along with the way he lifts the guys around him throughout the game. Kemajou also sees him helping behind the scenes, almost like an extra coach in the linebacker room.
That leadership showed up again during the bye week. Campbell and Lynn both said Rojas led by example, not just with his voice but with the way he attacked practice. The consistency and edge have made him a central piece of the defense in more ways than one.
“Tony's done some great things, and it's been really awesome,” Campbell said. “And as we know and statistically, there's a great catalyst when he's at his best.
But I think there's some areas too where he can continue to improve, and he knows that. And what I love about Tony is he's probably one of the guys that has spearheaded last week of coming out with purpose and intent, really having a great week of practice.”
For Rojas, though, the individual spotlight is secondary. He said his focus has moved past personal goals and toward the bigger picture, with the rest of Penn State’s season still ahead.
“I just want to win out,” Rojas said. “I think just winning is my biggest thing, and all those accolades and whatever doesn't really do anything good for me. I just want to win.”
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