Tony Rojas Rings in Awards Watch List Season
FOOTBALL IS LIFE!
STATE COLLEGE, PA - AUGUST 30: Tony Rojas #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after a play against the Nevada Wolf Pack during the first half at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium on August 30, 2025 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images We’re just a few days shy until the 100-day countdown for the start of the 2026 Penn State season. A clear sign that college football season is creeping ever closer is the release of the first awards watch list, which includes Nittany Lions standout linebacker Tony Rojas.
Rojas has been named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy watchlist, an award given at the end of the season to the nation’s best defensive player who upholds the ‘IMPACT’ values – Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity. The award is named after Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott, who helped the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories after starring at USC. The only Penn State player to receive the award thus far was defensive end Carl Nassib in 2015.
Rojas immediately demonstrated his playmaking ability as a true freshman in 2023. He became a full-time starter in 2024, but playing through a shoulder injury created consistency issues when he was on the field. However, Rojas seemed poised to become the next great at Linebacker U as upperclassman in 2025.
It would be easy to make an argument that he was Penn State’s best defensive player through the first four games. Unfortunately, Rojas suffered a season-ending injury in practice following a loss to Oregon. His presence was clearly missed the following week, as the Nittany Lions endured a shocking 42-37 upset to previously 0-4 UCLA.