Penn State Linebacker Rojas Out with Long-Term Injury

University Park, PA – Penn State linebacker Rojas will miss time due to a long-term injury, Lions247 confirmed Wednesday. Rojas, who started all four games this season, was notably absent during the media viewing window at practice earlier in the evening.

As a junior, Rojas is currently the second-leading tackler for Penn State, boasting 25 stops, including 13 solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one pass breakup. According to Pro Football Focus, he has played the third-most snaps on defense, logging 176 plays and generating five quarterback pressures.

The news raises concerns about Penn State’s linebacker depth, especially since Rojas has been a key player alongside junior who has taken on the starting role at the Mike linebacker position, playing a team-high 194 snaps. Redshirt senior has contributed 95 snaps across both the Mike and Will linebacker spots, but behind them, there is a steep decline in minutes with only redshirt freshman (47 snaps) and redshirt junior (44 snaps) logging significant time.

Freshman also had a brief appearance against on September 13, participating for 21 snaps.

Rojas appeared to be in top form at the beginning of the season after struggling with injuries last year. He has demonstrated notable performance, including two tackles for loss against Villanova and accumulating 10 tackles in the victory over on September 6. Earlier on Wednesday, Rojas received a recognition that exemplifies his early impact this season.

Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 230 pounds, Rojas earned All-Big Ten honorable mention last season. His career statistics include 105 tackles, 56 solo tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, five pass breakups, three interceptions, and a defensive touchdown scored during the first round of the College Football Playoff in December.

Rojas joined Penn State out of Fairfax, Virginia, after being recognized as a Top247 prospect in the Class of 2023. He finished as the third-ranked player in Virginia, the tenth-ranked linebacker nationally, and the 122nd overall player in his class.