| Jesse Luketa
LB | 6-2 | 240 247Sports ★★★★ ESPN ★★★★ Rivals ★★★★ |
Selected Penn State over Auburn, Baylor, Boston College, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Michigan State, Missouri, NC State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Pitt, Rutgers, Stanford, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, West Virginia
FROM LUKETA'S HEAD COACH JEFF ROOT
"We are so excited and proud for Jesse to begin the next chapter of his life and thrilled he's attending Penn State. Penn State is getting a very special player in Jesse! He is very physical at the point of attack, patient in traffic, he has tremendous lateral movement, closing speed and quickness, but the best attribute he brings is his high character, work ethic and unbelievable leadership qualities. The Penn State fan base is going to fall in love with this young man."
ABOUT LUKETA
High School: Three-year letterman for head coach Jeff Root at Mercyhurst Prep...Three-time team captain...Helped the Lakers to a 10-1 record and a runner-up finish in the District 10 Class AAA Championship game as a senior...Earned Rivals100 invitation...Is a finalist for the 2017 Mr. PA Football Class 1A-3A Award...Named Pennsylvania Football News (PFN) Class 3A Defensive Player of the Year in 2017...Collected Pennsylvania Football News (PFN) All-Class 3A first team honors in junior and senior seasons...Claimed a first-team spot on USA Today's ALL-USA Pennsylvania Football Team as a senior...Garnered Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 3A All-State first team honors in 2016 and 2017...Named All-WesternPAFootball.net first team in 2016...Selected first-team all-region in 2016 and 2017...Earned all-conference accolades twice...Named Team MVP twice...Registered 69 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a senior...Had 88 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 15.0 TFL, five interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, and three fumble recoveries as a junior...Rated as a four-star prospect by all three major recruiting outlets - 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals...Rated the No. 287 overall recruit, No. 8 prospect in Pennsylvania and No. 17 inside linebacker by 247Sports...Ranks as the No. 199 overall prospect, No. 7 inside linebacker, No. 7 recruit in Pennsylvania and No. 23 prospect in the region by ESPN...Ranked the No. 13 outside linebacker and No. 10 recruit in Pennsylvania by Rivals...Lettered in basketball as a junior.
Personal: Full name is Jesse Luketa...Son of Rose Luketa...Has two brothers, Joe Betu and Gino, and four sisters, Leslie, Laura, Sandrine and Guylaine...Hobbies include spending time with family and his nephews, reading and working out...Volunteered with the Salvation Army in Canada...Considering majoring in kinesiology...Would like to become a physical therapist...Born January 15, 1999 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.