Penn State linebacker Dominic DeLuca confirms he’ll return for 2025 season

Penn State will bring back another important defensive player for the 2025 season, as linebacker Dominic DeLuca confirmed on Instagram Wednesday afternoon that he’ll return for his senior season. A former walk-on, DeLuca used his redshirt in 2021 and has been a regular contributor ever since, playing in all but one game since the 2022 season.

After missing the game against Illinois earlier this season, DeLuca returned against UCLA the following week and put together an excellent second half of the season. He finished 2024 with 40 tackles, four tackles for loss, four pass deflections and three interceptions.

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The highlight of his career also came in one of the biggest games of the season, as DeLuca had two interceptions against SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings in Penn State’s first-round matchup at Beaver Stadium. The first of those he took back for a touchdown, and the second kept the Mustangs from scoring when they were deep in Penn State territory.

“Dom is just a baller,” head coach James Franklin said about DeLuca following the SMU game. “You’re talking about a guy who was the Pennsylvania Player of the Year. Won a state championship on a torn ACL. Grayshirted to be able to come here. Came as a walk on, earned a scholarship….I think he’s a tremendous example for all of our players on the team. He’s got a smile on his face. He’s appreciative. He works his tail off. Trusted us when we talked about the positions that we wanted to play him and whatever role we’ve asked him to do, he’s done it 100 miles an hour.”

Penn State linebacker coach Dan Connor has also praised DeLuca on multiple occasions. Earlier this year, he noted that DeLuca has what it takes to be a future coach in college football.

“Dom DeLuca is the smartest player I think I’ve ever been around. I told him a couple weeks ago. I said, once he’s done playing, I’m hiring him. Wherever I’m at, hopefully here, I’m hiring him. You just don’t come across kids that have that type of football intelligence. Then, on top of it, he’s incredibly instinctual.”

Updated NFL Draft decisions as of 3:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday

Coming back to Penn State despite being NFL Draft eligible:

C Nick Dawkins
S Zakee Wheatley
DL Smith Vilbert
QB Drew Allar
RB Nicholas Singleton
RB Kaytron Allen
DE Dani Dennis-Sutton
DT Zane Durant
LB Dom DeLuca

Leaving for the NFL Draft early:

CB Jalen Kimber
S KJ Winston
DE Abdul Carter
LB Kobe King

No announcement yet about their future:

C/G Vega Ioane
OT Drew Shelton
DE Zuriah Fisher
DT Alonzo Ford
P Riley Thompson
OL JB Nelson
K Sander Sahaydak
TE Khalil Dinkins
WR Liam Clifford
OT Nolan Rucci

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