Penn State’s Jesse Luketa shows his versatility and talent
During his first three seasons at Penn State, Luketa was a linebacker. However, entering his fourth year, head coach James Franklin wanted him to play defensive end, too.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Playing D-I football at any position is hard enough — but to do it at two positions is a feat not many players can accomplish.
For senior Jesse Luketa, that was his task this season.
During his first three seasons at Penn State, Luketa patrolled the middle of the field as a linebacker, however, entering his fourth year, head coach James Franklin and company decided to have the senior play at defensive end as well.
Through the first two games, the Ottawa, Ontario, native has racked up nine tackles, and on Saturday, he snagged his first career interception, which he promptly returned 16 yards for a touchdown.
The pick, which came after two fruitless Penn State drives to start the second half, helped seal a 44-13 win over No. 11 Penn State.
“I saw the quarterback raise up, so I put my palm out and I gripped it with my hand,” Luketa said of his one-handed interception. “I caught it, and I was like ‘We gotta make a house call.’ ”
Luketa’s interception was one that helped shift the momentum back to Penn State, but it also showcased Luketa’s ability to play the defensive end position.
Prior to snaring the pass out of midair with only one hand, Luketa was in the process of shedding a block and trying to get to Ball State quarterback Drew Plitt.
“That was the best pick I’ve ever seen,” sophomore Marquis Wilson said. “I got that play in my head still ... I lost my mind.”
While his teammates, and the 105,000 fans that packed Beaver Stadium for the first time since 2019, were wowed by his interception, it was nothing new for him.
He referenced back to a time in high school, at Mercyhurst Prep, when he took an interception back to the house.
“I had a 70-yard pick-six,” Luketa said. “They were running double slants, and I bit on the first one and took it all the way to the house.”
The transition to a second position, which seemingly paid off Saturday afternoon, takes more than just sheer athleticism, though — it also requires a degree of selflessness and mental toughness.
Coming into the 2021 campaign, what exactly Luketa would do on the field was still largely up in the air, however he has carved out loads of playing time through the first two weeks of the season.
Not being able to play a primary position full-time is a sacrifice in and of itself, and one that Luketa has made, willingly, to kick off the year.
“I think it speaks a lot to his character,” senior captain Jonathon Southerland said. “[He’s] a guy who’s willing to sacrifice and make sacrifices for the betterment of the team.”
The challenge to play two positions is one Luketa has met head-on, and something that he will, likely, continue to do as Penn State heads into the thick of its daunting schedule.
However, he enjoys playing multiple positions and has taken full advantage of it thus far, but he also understands how important it is for the Penn State defense that he can drop down to defensive end or step up to a linebacker role.
“I love it,” Luketa said. “It just presents so much more opportunity and versatility for our defense.”
Luketa even hinted that he may think he is better at defensive end as opposed to linebacker, simply because he is “comfortable.”
Whatever the case may be, his sacrifice, and willingness to adapt to an unknown role, has not gone unnoticed and has been a huge factor as to why the Nittany Lions are 2-0 heading into their Whiteout matchup with No. 25 Auburn.
“I’m super proud of Jesse Luketa,” Franklin said. “He didn’t really know what his role was going to be coming into the season; he just trusted the coaches and trusted the program. Right now, he’s impacting at defensive end [and] he’s impacting at linebacker.”