Penn State signee Tony Rojas was named the Gatorade Virginia Football Player of the Year

Penn State signee Tony Rojas earned the notable honor Friday as he prepares to begin his college career in earnest in a few days.

Rojas was named the Gatorade Virginia Football Player of the Year for his performance in the fall at Fairfax (Va.) High.

Although Rojas is set to play linebacker at Penn State, he starred on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 2,239 yards and 35 touchdowns and caught 17 passes for 281 yards and two more touchdowns on offense. On defense, Rojas recorded 72 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, five forced fumbles and four pass breakups.

Rojas was previously named All-Met Offensive Player of the Year by The Washington Post for his efforts in the football-rich Washington, DC area.

According to the release, the Gatorade Player of the Year award “recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the field.” Rojas was a member of the Fairfax High School Board of Trustees and volunteered locally as part of community beautification projects and also spent time as a youth soccer coach.

Rojas was the Top247 prospect in the class of 2023, and the industry-produced 247Sports Composite ranked Rojas the No. 6 prospect nationally and the No. 92 overall prospect in the class. He plans to enroll early as the semester starts next week. Penn State listed Rojas at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds on National Signing Day.

Penn State beat out a group of schools that included Georgia, Miami (Fla.) and Clemson for Rojas’ commitment.

Under the defensive coordinator Manny DiazRojas projects to play the Sam linebacker spot he occupied Curtis Jacobs, Jonathan Sutherland and Dominic DeLuca over the past two seasons.

In 2023, Penn State will lose Sutherland at the linebacker position, while Jacobs can declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. Any other key starters or rotating pieces, including the breakout star Abdul Carterintend to return.

Rojas was one of three linebackers to sign with Penn State during the cycle, joining Pittsburgh Brashear four-star Ta’Mere Robinson and Richmond (Va.) Varina. Kaveion Keys. As a coach on national signing day James Franklin said that Robinson currently works as a Mike adventurer, while Keys works as Will’s linebacker.

Rojas follows in the footsteps of Brandon Smith as a Penn State linebacker who was named the Gatorade Virginia Football Player of the Year. Smith was a five-star recruit in the 2019 class and spent three seasons with the Nittany Lions before being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft last spring.

Class of 2022, running back Nick Singleton was the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year for his efforts his senior year at Shillington (Pa.) Governor Mifflin.

Daniel Gallen covers the Penn State Lions for 247 and 247Sports. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow Daniel on Twitter at @danieljtgallen.