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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State redshirt junior linebacker Tony Rojas was named as a midseason addition to the Bednarik Award watch list on Wednesday.
Rojas joins redshirt senior safety Jeremiah Cooper on the Bednarik Award watch list.
The Chuck Bednarik Award, in its 32nd year, is presented annually to the outstanding defensive player in college football.
Tony Rojas · R-Jr. · LB · 6-2 · 236 · Fairfax, Va. · Fairfax
Named midseason first-team All-American by On3.
Tabbed midseason second-team All-American by the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated.
Selected to the Comeback Player of the Year, Hispanic College Football Player of the Year and Lott IMPACT Trophy watch lists.
Also named to the Senior Bowl 300.
Has played in 40 games and made 27 starts at Penn State.
Has collected 161 tackles (85 solo), 24.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, six interceptions (one touchdown) and seven pass breakups in his career.
His six career interceptions are tied-most among current FBS linebackers and tied for the PSU linebackers career record with Lance Mehl (6; 1978-79) and Scott Radecic (6; 1982-83).
Rojas is one of two active FBS players with 24+ tackles for loss and 6+ interceptions in their career.
Since 1956, he is one of nine Big Ten linebackers to post 24+ tackles for loss and 6+ interceptions in their career.
In 2026, Rojas leads PSU with 56 tackles, 29 solo tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions.
He's the only FBS player with 10.5+ tackles for loss and 2+ interceptions this season.
Rojas is currently riding streaks of 10+ tackles in three-straight games and 1+ sack in four-straight games.
He tallied two tackles for loss and a sack against Marshall (9/5) and an interception at Temple (9/12).
Rojas collected two tackles for loss, one sack and an interception against Wisconsin (9/26).
He had a career-high 12 tackles and career-best 3.5 tackles for loss (one sack) at Northwestern (10/2).
He recorded 10 tackles, a solo sack and a forced fumble against USC (10/10) and led PSU with 12 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack at Michigan (10/17).
The Bednarik Award has been presented to the College Defensive Player of the Year since 1994 and is named in honor of Chuck "Concrete Charlie" Bednarik, who was an All-American player at the University of Pennsylvania and an All-Pro linebacker and center for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Semifinalists for the Chuck Bednarik Award will be announced on November 10 and the three finalists for the award will be revealed on November 24.
The winner will be announced live during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 10.
The formal presentation of the Chuck Bednarik Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 13, 2027 at the Coca Cola Roxy Theater in Atlanta.
Penn State hosts Purdue on Saturday, October 31 at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4:15 p.m. on Big Ten Network.