Penn State football linebacker Tony Rojas has made the Lott IMPACT Trophy watchlist, the awards website announced on Friday.

The Lott IMPACT Trophy is given each year to the nation’s top defensive player, who also shows the off-field characteristics of Ronnie Lott. IMPACT is an acronym for Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community, and Tenacity.

The Fairfax, Virginia, native played only four games last season due to a long-term injury sustained against Oregon in the White Out. However, in 2024, he was named an All-Big Ten selection after recording 58 total tackles, six tackles for loss, and three interceptions.

Rojas was joined on the watch list by fellow Big Ten student-athletes, including Jide Abasiri from USC, Matthew Bailey from Illinois, John Henry Daley from Michigan, and Kenyatta Jackson from Ohio State. The linebacker was the only Nittany Lion on the list.

Rojas would be the second Nittany Lion to win the award, following Carl Nassib in 2015.

About the Author

Collin Ward

Collin is a fourth-year majoring in digital/print journalism. He lives in Basking Ridge, New Jersey and enjoys TAYLOR HAM, egg, and cheese. As a New York Giants and Chelsea FC fan you can normally find him yelling at his TV screen on the weekends. Please follow him on X(formerly Twitter) @wardcollinz for Penn State football stuff. You can email him at collin@onwardstate.com.

How Centre County Voted In The 2026 Midterm Elections

Centre County saw a 55.32% voter turnout rate in the general election.

Man Accused of Stealing Vehicle From State College Hotel & Driving Drunk

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12.

‘Blood In The Water’: Penn State Football Cornerback Audavion Collins & Secondary Elevating Surrounding Units

“He does a good job of making everyone else around him better because he’s the hardest-working guy on the field at all times.”