Tony Rojas has been vocal about his thoughts on Penn State’s coaching decisions, especially when it came to advocating for Terry Smith. Even with the buzz around his potential move to Miami, Rojas chose to stay with the Nittany Lions under new head coach Matt Campbell, who retained Smith on his staff.
Reflecting on his choice, Rojas shared, “At the end of the day, I really knew where home was.” Despite a challenging 2025 season marked by a torn ACL and some team struggles, Rojas is ready for a fresh start.
The trouble began with a quad injury during a tough loss to Oregon, which led to his ACL tear in practice. “It was kind of frustrating,” Rojas admitted. “I knew when it happened it was because of my quad contusion.”
On the sidelines, Rojas watched the team falter without him, going 3-6. The season saw James Franklin’s departure and the team rallying for Smith to take over. Rojas was unafraid to speak up, using his platform to support Smith.
“Just being a leader myself, having my voice out there, it was something for the better,” he explained.
With a new era under Campbell and defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, Rojas sees a shift in culture. Accountability has become a cornerstone, something Rojas believes was lacking before. “He just holds a lot of us accountable,” Rojas said, appreciating Campbell’s focus on both football and academics.
Rojas is poised for a comeback, ready to make an impact on the field and benefit from the new leadership. If he translates this renewed energy into performance, he could re-establish himself as one of the top linebackers in the nation, embodying the new Penn State football vision.