Safety Jaylen Reed and edge rusher Abdul Carter are the first two defensive game-wreckers on Penn State’s roster. In tonight’s Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, undefeated Oregon will need to account for both on every offensive snap.
Throughout the regular season, Carter—who was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year—produced 19.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, and two caused fumbles.
For coordinator Tom Allen, Reed, the star tackler for the Nittany Lions, does a little bit of everything. He has 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a team-high 75 stops.
And as No. 3 Penn State’s season has progressed, a young Lions defender has made progress in making a variety of impacts on the game.
Tony Rojas, a first-year starter and sophomore linebacker, is quick and forceful. His speed is evident in both pass coverage and run support.
43 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions, three quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups are all recorded by the 6-2, 236-pound Rojas.
Last Saturday at Beaver Stadium, the Lions defeated Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton 44–7 thanks to a defensive strategy that included Carter, Reed, and Rojas.
Felton scored nine touchdowns and led the Big Ten in both receptions (96) and yards (1,124). However, against a Penn State defense that was ranked No. 4 in terms of fewest yards allowed per game (266.8) and No. 6 in terms of fewest points (14.0), he was essentially inconspicuous.
Felton was restricted to season lows of four catches and 27 yards against the 11-1 Lions.
On November 23, 2024, Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas sacks Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer in the first quarter.
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When questioned about closing Felton, Rojas stated that it began in the beginning of the week.
Naturally, we designated (Felton) as a person to seek out. Only our corners weren’t freaking out. We are aware that we have the greatest corners; in fact, we think we have the best in college and the Big Ten.
We don’t actually fear anyone.
To contain the 6-2, 181-pound Felton, Reed stated, “We had to stop all of his yards after catch; just tackle him well and put hands on him.”
“We don’t recoil,” Carter remarked.
We embrace hardship rather than allowing it to control us.
Late in the second quarter, Rojas, who finished with three stops against Maryland, stopped a promising Terps drive at the PSU 9 by intercepting a throw from MJ Morris.
Rojas attributed his development and adjustment in 2024 to defensive analyst Dan Connor, a former PSU star linebacker and the program’s all-time top tackler.
Rojas described his 2024 strategy as “just a six-second mentality for me, and not inhaling or exhaling.”
I can’t let a poor performance get to me. I was somewhat impacted by it at the start of the season.
Just concentrating on the upcoming play. Coach (Dan) Connor and the veterans in the room have been excellent.
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