Signed: LB Jesse Luketa
WHAT HE DID: Originally from Canada, Luketa transferred to Mercuhurst Prep in Erie, Pa., for his sophomore season to help reach his dream of playing Division I football. He started all three years at Mercyhurst. Following a 1-9 season as a sophomore, he played a major role in turning the program around, as the Lakers went 6-4 in 2016 and then 9-0 this season. In his final season at Mercyhurst, Luktea finished with 80 tackles, including seven tackles for loss. He also had three interceptions, four sacks, six pass deflections, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. However, the Lakers’ title aspirations were derailed when Sharon produced a 21-14 upset in the second round, ending their season at 10-1. Luketa will be an early enrollee at Penn State. He'll begin taking classes once the spring semester begins next month.
WHAT HE WON: Luketa was a preseason Butkus Award nominee, presented to the nation’s top high school linebacker, coming off a strong junior season at Mercyhurst. He was also an all-district and all-state selection his junior and senior seasons. Luketa is rated by Rivals.com as a four-star inside linebacker, checking in at No. 12 for Pennsylvania's Class of 2018 and the No. 13-overall inside linebacker in the country.
WHERE HE VISITED: Visiting the Nittany Lions for the April 2016 for Blue-White Game, Luketa would return twice before earning his first offer from Missouri. He’d visit Pitt while amassing a wealth of new offers, and finally earned his Penn State scholarship last January. After visiting for the program’s junior day in February, he’d verbally commit to Penn State just a week later. Though other offers continued to pour in, Luketa remained steadfast to the Nittany Lions, visiting unofficially six more times - while taking in no other visits - before his official the weekend of Dec. 8.
QUOTABLE: "Penn State is home. Academically, there is no better fit. I know I'm going to get a great education and a Penn State degree. At the same time, I'm going to play in the best conference there is in the Big Ten. To play against schools like Ohio State and Michigan each year, I'm really looking forward to that.”
PHIL’S TAKE: With both Jason Cabinda and Brandon Smith graduating, Luketa is one of the most important members of Penn State’s Class of 2018. The depth at the middle linebacker position in 2018 could be an issue for the Nittany Lions’ defense, as redshirt freshman Ellis Brooks and junior Jake Cooper are the only other players capable of playing the position. That’s why Luketa’s January enrollment is so important, as it’ll give him a feel for the college game during spring practice. The 6-foot-2, 239 pound Canadian plays a physical brand of football, similar to Cabinda.
