Normally when it is so-called “garbage time” you’re not really paying attention. It’s time to think about going home, making a trip to the bathroom, staying for a final few plays because you want to say you watched the entire game. It’s not usually all that interesting, something of a formality because the powers that be haven’t come up with a rule that just lets both teams call it early.
But Penn State linebacker Tony Rojas turned heads during garbage time last year. The hot talk of spring practice in 2023, Rojas would make the occasional appearance during the main thrust of the game, but early in the season Rojas was coming on slowly.
Once he was on, he made plays. When it was all said and done Rojas racked up 22 tackles while making appearances in just eight games. That was still good enough for 15th on the team, more than pending NFL Draft choice Chop Robinson. Different positions, different usages, but a surprising figure at face value.
“I appreciate coach [Manny] Diaz,” Rojas said on Saturday reflecting on the season prior. “He didn’t really rush me [out there] although I felt like I was ready early on in the games. I feel like it really boosted my confidence [playing well during garbage time]. Every game I just felt more and more calm, I wasn’t really nervous and I’m just ready to get out there for season two.”
That is a tale as old as time, a coach telling a player to be patient and a player trying his best to buy into the unenjoyable profession of waiting your turn. The funny part is looking back at it after the fact, was Diaz right to hold Rojas back?
“Definitely,” Rojas said with a grin. “Towards the end of the season, I was obviously more ready. But in the beginning I was seeing some playing time, but he saw my eyes and knew I had to develop more. So see, I appreciate him not rushing me.”
Now it’s full steam ahead, especially as linebacker Abdul Carter makes the move to defensive end. Rojas stands to be a bigger fixture, literally and figuratively, in Penn State’s defensive equation in 2024 under new defensive coordinator Tom Allen. Playing more will make Rojas a bigger staple in the defense, but so too will adding 20+ pounds to his frame, now listed at 225 pounds after coming to campus just under 200.
“His performance numbers and metrics, they just keep climbing,” Assistant AD for Athletic Performance Chuck Losey said earlier this year. “A lot of times when guys get on campus, they put 20 pounds on, it’s at the detriment of something — usually their movement. Not Tony.”
“I think you see physically, he looks different,” Penn State coach James Franklin added. “I wanted to make sure that he’s not putting on too much weight. But I think he’s a guy that can literally play both positions. He’s intelligent enough to play [middle linebacker]. And he’s physical enough and got enough instincts to play the boundary backer. And he can run. He’s had a lot of production early on in his career. Obviously, we expect it to skyrocket this year, especially with Abdul moving to defensive end.”
So no more garbage time for Tony Rojas. It’s primetime now.
