Tony Rojas LB Penn State |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #13 PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.44 seconds (98%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.7 DOB: 04/08/2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #13 | |
| PLAY STYLE: MULI-ROLE LB | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.44 seconds (98%*) | |
| Age: 21.7 DOB: 04/08/2005 | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.7 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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80% |
| Pass Rush: |
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72% |
| Run Defense: |
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84% |
| Coverage: |
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83% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#84
Position rank:
#12 (LB)
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| College Games: 39 College Snaps: 1383 | ||
ESPN RATING: 84/100
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247 RATING: 94/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kaleb Elarms-Orr - TCU |
|
91% |
| Anthony Hill Jr. - Texas |
|
87% |
| Trenton Simpson - Clemson |
|
86% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Tony Rojas was a two-way star at Fairfax High School in northern Virginia, and he chose Penn State as a four-star recruit.Rojas played in 13 games as a freshman in 2023, intercepting a pass and forcing a fumble, then started all 16 games in 2024 as Penn State reached the playoff semifinal, making 58 tackles, six tackles for loss and three interceptions, including a pick-six, to earn honorable mention All-Big Ten. He started the first four games of 2025, played through a quad contusion against Oregon and then suffered a season-ending lower-body injury in practice the following week; one report described it as a knee injury. Penn State lost its next two games and fired James Franklin.
Rojas announced on 1 January 2026 that he would stay at Penn State, saying he knew where home was, and he said his rehab was on track and possibly slightly ahead of schedule. Under new head coach Matt Campbell, his snaps were limited early but have grown as he regained confidence in the knee, and he leads Penn State in sacks, tackles and tackles for loss, with five sacks and two interceptions in eight games. Campbell has said his play is a catalyst for the defense when he is at his best. His six career interceptions lead all active FBS linebackers, though Penn State was 3-4 before hosting Purdue on 31 October.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare speed for a linebacker, with one of the best forty times in the class
- Six career interceptions, the most among active FBS linebackers
- Leads Penn State in sacks, tackles and tackles for loss this season
- Effective blitzer, with five sacks in eight games
- Strong in coverage, with the range to carry tight ends up the seam
- Started all 16 games for a 2024 playoff semifinalist
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Season-ending injury in 2025 limited him to four games
- Missed seven tackles in eight games this season, too many for his role
- Light frame for an off-ball linebacker against climbing guards
- Snaps were limited early this season as he worked back from the injury
Scouting Report: Summary
Rojas is a fast, instinctive linebacker who makes plays on the ball and gets after the quarterback. He has rare speed for the position, six career interceptions, the most among active FBS linebackers, and five sacks in eight games this season, and he leads Penn State in sacks, tackles and tackles for loss. He started all 16 games for the 2024 playoff semifinalist and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten.His comeback has been a bright spot in a difficult season. After a lower-body injury ended his 2025 season after four games, he chose to stay at Penn State, worked his way back and has seen his snaps grow under Matt Campbell, who has said his play is a catalyst for the defense. He has two interceptions this season and has allowed nine catches on 14 targets, and he has made 30 run stops. His 30 run stops show he is willing to come downhill, even if run defense is not the strength of his game.
However, durability and size are the questions. The 2025 injury cost him most of a season, and his frame is light for an off-ball linebacker, so climbing guards can wash him out of run fits. He has missed seven tackles this season, his snaps were limited early as he regained confidence in the knee, and he is more of a cover-and-blitz linebacker than a downhill run defender. Penn State's 3-4 start has also limited his chances to shine in big wins. A team will want a full medical review of the knee, and he will need to keep adding strength to hold up between the tackles.
Overall, Rojas's speed, coverage ability and ball production fit the modern NFL, where linebackers must cover and rush. He projects as a third-round linebacker with the ceiling of a three-down starter at Will and the floor of a sub-package and special teams contributor. His ball skills are rare for a linebacker, and no active FBS linebacker has matched his six career interceptions.
How other scouting services rate Tony Rojas (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
78.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
11.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.