Although Tom Allen has only been at Penn State for six months, he has learned a lot about the linebackers he mentors as a coach and defensive coordinator.
“It’s a special room,” Allen said last week during an interview session with writers. “One of the strength coaches came to me the other day and said, ‘Coach, all I need to do is give these linebackers what they’re supposed to do. I could literally walk away and they would do that and do more.
“It didn’t surprise me. I’ve seen that since I got here.”
Allen, the former Indiana coach, believes he has the pieces at linebacker to fit into their aggressive 4-2-5 scheme.
With Curtis Jacobs signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent and Abdul Carter moving to defensive end, Kobe King is Penn State’s only returning starter at linebacker.
King has the size (6-1,250), experience (30 games) and personality to anchor the defense.
“You have to be loud and confident to run the defense,” Allen said. “He brings it. He has experience. He has a lot of passion for what he does. He is respected. He works a lot. He practices well. He comes and studies. He is well versed in what we are doing.”
King, the twin brother of former Nittany Lions cornerback Kalen King, had the second-most tackles last year at Penn State with 59 in his first season as the starting linebacker. He also had six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
“He’s bringing guys with him and they’re doing a lot of things on their own this summer,” Allen said. “He’s been amazing with it. It was a big step of growth for him. That’s what leaders do. For me, this is a big step.”
Sophomore Tony Rojas is the leading candidate to play alongside King. Rojas, a four-star recruit from Fairfax, Virginia, impressed as a reserve last season and on special teams. He finished with 22 tackles, three for losses, one interception and one forced fumble.
He arrived at Penn State in January 2023 weighing 197 pounds, added nearly 30 in less than six months and is now listed at 225.
“I’ve seen a lot of growth from him since I’ve been here,” Allen said. “His body has changed a lot since he got here. He’s maintained his speed, if not gotten faster, which is incredible. He has a lot of confidence.
“We cannot forget that he is young. He has to continue to do the little things necessary to be an elite Big Ten football player. He has to prove that he is working day after day, week after week.”
Marcos Selders
Former North Schuylkill standout Tyler Elsdon is expected to be a big part of Penn State’s defense once again this season. (MARK SELDERS – PENN STATE)
North Schuylkill product Tyler Elsdon and Wyoming area graduate Dom DeLuca have plenty of experience behind King and Rojas.
Elsdon started every game two seasons ago before losing the job to King last season, but saw significant action. DeLuca has played in every game the past two seasons, showing a talent for making big plays. He has two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two blocked kicks in his career.
“Tyler cares a lot, man,” Allen said. “His effort is at the top of the charts in training and training. The same goes for Dom. You don’t ever have to worry about where they’re supposed to be or doing what they’re supposed to be doing or whether they’re late. They’re holding guys accountable.”
Several younger linebackers have yet to see much game action, including Keon Wylie, Ta’Mere Robinson and Kaveion Keys. Allen suggested they might have more talent than the three All-American linebackers he coached in his eight seasons at Indiana.
“Some of these young guys have a chance to be really special players,” he said. “But it’s adherence. What do you want? How hard are you willing to work for it? How much are you willing to sacrifice to get what you want? For me, that’s the key.”
Allen would like to see the linebackers set the tone for the rest of Penn State’s defense.
“It’s that internal drive to get things done when no one is around,” he said. “We call it working hard in the dark. When no one’s here, what are you doing extra? If you want to be special, you need to do extra things.
“When your linebacker room has that, you have a chance to have a special defense because that spreads to the other positions.”
