Penn State football linebacker Tony Rojas has been named a Butkus Award semifinalist, the program announced Thursday afternoon.

The award annually recognizes college football’s top linebacker and is named after Illinois and Chicago Bears legend Dick Butkus. It also honors the nation’s top high school and NFL linebackers.

Rojas has easily been Penn State’s most productive defensive player in 2026. He leads the team with five sacks and has 29 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions.

The redshirt junior wasn’t originally on the award’s watch list. Kooper Ebel received that preliminary honor from the Butkus Award Selection Committee, but Rojas has overtaken him and is Penn State’s sole semifinalist.

Rojas is also up for the Bednarik Award, Comeback Player of the Year, Hispanic College Football Player of the Year, and LOTT Impact Trophy.

The Butkus Award will announce its finalists on November 20, with the winner announced on December 7.

About the Author

Oscar Orellana

Oscar is a third-year broadcast journalism student from Los Angeles. He's probably at the movies. He mostly writes about Penn State football. Email him at oscar@onwardstate.com.

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