Penn State football’s linebacker room was in a complete state of disarray four months ago. Former walk-on Beckham Dee and backup Ta’Mere Robinson decided to try their luck in the transfer portal, suddenly creating a glaring need at the position for new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

Enter Amare Campbell.

The Nittany Lions snagged the three-star linebacker as a transfer from North Carolina and the No. 8 linebacker in the transfer portal. Penn State and Knowles jumped right back in the game with a new-look linebacker trio of Campbell and veteran Nittany Lions Tony Rojas and Dominic DeLuca.

Knowles’ 4-2-5 defense has served as a major talking point for Penn State’s 2025 season outlook throughout the offseason, since the talented linebacker group will have to be somewhat trimmed for the final on-field product.

James Franklin outlined a little bit of how the linebacker trio will function in 2025 ahead of Penn State’s opening matchup against Nevada. Campbell and DeLuca will both serve as the green dots communicating with Knowles on the field. DeLuca will have two helmets during games and will control communication in the mike linebacker spot when Campbell is off the field. Campbell will have control when he’s on the field, no matter the lineup. If both are in, DeLuca will be in the will linebacker role.

Franklin said that the coaching and equipment staffs have been working through the kinks of DeLuca’s two-helmet system throughout camp. However, DeLuca expressed his comfort with the change and praised Campbell’s new role within the squad.

“I don’t think it’s going to be too much. I do have two helmets. [Austin] Cruz, our [equipment] guy, is going to be standing right next to me at all times, and coach [Dan] Connor. So, whenever we have to make that sub or make that change, we’ll be on it,” DeLuca said. “…[Campbell] has a high football IQ, and it’s very impressive how he just is able to break down the game and slow the game down for himself, and even learning from him too.”

Rojas praised both Campbell and DeLuca for their leadership throughout camp and for their clear roles as the leaders of the defense. He said that DeLuca is a smart player and will work out his newfound logistical predicament with two helmets.

This development paves the way for Rojas to be one of Penn State’s two starting linebackers. Campbell and DeLuca’s switches will most likely lead to Rojas being on the field for the majority of the time. Despite this, Rojas isn’t backing down from the competition in the linebacker room that was reinvigorated with Campbell’s transfer in from North Carolina.

“Amare [Campbell] coming in; there’s a lot of competition in the LB room, and that raises all of our games. It doesn’t make none of us complacent,” Rojas said. “Just having guys that could play in the LB room is a good thing. The competition just makes us want to get better. You know if you have a day off that’s bad, there’s someone behind you.”

Rojas did say that the stark difference Knowles is implementing in this year’s defense is the reliance on the linebackers as the main defensive communicators. Last season, the safeties ran the show. Now, the linebackers have to implement communication with the whole defense at the forefront of their playing style with Knowles at the helm.

“Jim, he’s kind of like the mastermind. He’ll sit back and watch and communicate it to the other coaches. He just sits back and it’s kind of weird he gets to see the whole defense in one play and just figure out what’s wrong,” Rojas said. “… He doesn’t just tell us what we have to do, he’ll also explain why … It’s kind of easy to say what to do, but for us defenders, knowing the why is kind of a big part.”

Rojas and DeLuca’s quick pivots and accommodation despite the swift implementation of an entirely new defensive coordinator, scheme, and big-name transfer aided them in their overall leadership roles within the squad.

DeLuca, now a redshirt senior, knows he has a bigger responsibility as one of the older players on defense. He said he’s been the voice of accountability for the younger players while still depending on others to hold him accountable throughout camp and the defense’s transition period. As a result, his knowledge of the game and communication have sharpened as he enters his third season as a team captain.

Campbell, Rojas, and DeLuca are set to take the field under Knowles for the first time in 2025 in just two days, folks.