Penn State came fresh off a ‘close to the Natty’ season in 2024. Their supremely talented roster put them into the thick of a championship in a historic year under James Franklin but left a bad taste in the mouth over the dramatic Orange Bowl loss. But this unfinished quest against the Fighting Irish made their hunger double for a championship in 2025. To head his way, Franklin must nail the roster rebuilding. But which position should he keep in the center of his headspace? What should be the ideal strategy to proceed through the challenges? Franklin receives some serious, unpopular counsel from an insider.
Heading into the spring, the Nittany Lions are making waves as a huge championship-caliber preparation. It’s easy to get caught in the hype, but to put it into action, you need a solid action plan. One fan hinted at that minute and asked insiders Thomas Frank Carr and Sean Fitzz which position battle the Lions should solve in priority during the spring. Thomas simply wrapped it up with the Linebacker, while his co-host, Fitzz, perspective varies a little and makes some good sense.
The linebacker position seems to be in good shape after the return of redshirt senior Dominic DeLuca and Tony Rojas. However, Kobe King’s NFL departure raised questions about their future middle linebacker. Analyst Fitzz thinks there is no need to rush things. Rather, taking Spring as an observation window, more than a decision-making timeframe, might help the program’s current defensive flow.
“Here, you want to keep everybody on the roster. Right, yeah, that’s kind of the game here with spring ball. You’ve got to keep those guys engaged. You got to keep those guys, like some of those battles will be a good idea after spring. You know, I think the players sometimes understand it more than the fans. Even you, I mean Storm Duck, were out of here after a spring because he didn’t think he was going to play, like that.” The Blue and White analyst sketches a spring agenda for Franklin.
Naming the Mike linebacker isn’t that necessary if you see it from the performance point of view. Even the new guys who got fewer reps can deliver some good outputs once they start getting rolling. But if you see from the leadership perspective, you need a guy like Kobe who can make the defense look whole just by existing. “Guys get better like guys, you can’t win a job in the summer. But you can put yourself in a position to do so in the summer. So I think that a lot of those go. I agree with the philosophy that a Mike linebacker should be in place. But I’m very curious if a Mike linebacker is a thing on this defense,” Fitzz dished the bottom line.
However, Franklin has a few young stars that can get lined up behind DeLuca and Rojas, edging forward.
James Franklin has a messy, overbearing linebacker room to sort
While Fitzz’s ‘slow down and let the water flow’ theory sounds great, Franklin needs to solve a puzzle in the linebacker room as soon as possible. There have been talents, but not an organized craft book on how to use them for the better.
Rojas, one of three players, won’t be “fully available” due to injury as spring practices begin. He has already amassed 58 tackles, three interceptions, four passes defended, and one sack in 2024. The other guy in the spotlight, DeLuca, posted 40 tackles, three interceptions, one pass defended, and a half sack.
But there are more weapons in the room. ‘There are some guys like [Keon] Wiley, who’s coming off an injury, that we’re going to need to get evaluated. You’ve got [Ta’mere] Robinson that’s ready to take the next step, [Anthony] Speca is a young player that we’re expecting to take the next step as well,” Franklin ran through almost his entire depth chart in the position when discussing potential 2025 contributors at linebacker.
Franklin mentioned Lavar Arington II, Beckham Dee, and Alex Tatsch as other potential assets on the roster. They are all ready to step up and make some early spring splash. All good and fair until he puts all his potential in jeopardy, saying, “So there are a number of guys. But right now, I’m not sure how it’s going to play out.” He has to come up with a definite idea of how to put everything in order before we head to the fall, at least.
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