Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 45-0vs Marshall | 7 | 6 | 2.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 7 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 27-9@ Temple | 7 | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 14 | 11 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
#13
Tony Rojas
Junior linebacker for Penn State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 236 lb · Fairfax, VA · Fairfax
CFB Index 78 · #66 of 571 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Penn State for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
14
tackles · 2026
2 TFL · 1 sacks
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 7 tackles, 1 INT, at Temple
The play that turned itSwung Penn State from 64% to 95% to win.SMU at Penn State · 38-10
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for Penn State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Penn State in 2023.
Buzz vs Tape
Fans warmer than rivals
His own fans are far more bullish than the rival fanbase.
18.2own fans
0rival fans
Tony Rojas
Is steady in every phase without a signature trait. Four seasons at Penn State, three different head coaches: James Franklin, Terry Smith and Matt Campbell. The receipt: 7 tackles, 1 INT against Temple — Week 2, 2026.
14 TACKLES · 1 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
20238 games
- Signed with Penn State4-star out of Fairfax
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★
CFB
College
Penn State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
3 coachesPlayed under 3 different head coaches: James Franklin, Terry Smith, and Matt Campbell. Multi-era developmental context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Penn State10-3HC: James Franklin · Run-leaning
2024Penn State13-3HC: James Franklin · Run-leaning
2025Penn State7-6HC: Terry Smith · Run-leaning
2026Penn State2-0HC: Matt Campbell · Run-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: solo tackles (92nd percentile). Strength: sacks (87th percentile).
Box-score production (7)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 7.0 TKL/g, 1.0 TFL/g, 0.5 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Matt Campbell
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Penn State | 14 | 11 | 2.0 | 1.0 | -- | 1 | -- |
| 2025 | Penn State | 25 | 13 | 4.5 | 2.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Penn State | 56 | 34 | 6.5 | 1.5 | 4 | 3 | -- |
| 2023 | Penn State | 21 | 7 | 4.5 | 1.0 | -- | 1 | -- |
| Career | 116 | 65 | 17.5 | 5.5 | 5 | 5 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 27–9
at Temple
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Penn State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Penn State
Returning around him
- 8 Penn State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -10 net (38 in / 48 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Penn State · Last season: 7-6 (AP #7) · Talent rank #26 · 2026 recruiting class #65
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Linebacker
Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Isaac Walker’s 2025 season.
Matches Isaac on
TFL rate
Tackle volume
PD rate
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Trey Reynolds's junior season at Utah (2025).
75%match
Matches Trey on
TFL rate
Sack rate
Height
Differs from Trey on
Hurry rate (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Tony Rojas
The linebacker corps · Penn State
- #8Kooper Ebel77 tackles · 2025
- #10Caleb Bacon68 tackles · 2025
- #9Cael Brezina29 tackles · 2025
- #13Tony Rojas25 tackles · 2025
- #25Alex Tatsch14 tackles · 2025
7 more on the roster · Penn State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology