Jesse Luketa was a four-star recruit out of Mercyhurst Prep in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was recruited as a linebacker and lined up in the box for most of the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Often referred to as a “positionless” player, Luketa showed off his versatility in 2021 as he lined up on the edge for the Nittany Lions. The team captain showed he was willing to play anywhere that head coach James Franklin asked him to, and his overall leadership. Luketa played in every game from 2018-20, then played 11 games in 2021.
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Player Bio
Name: Jesse Luketa
Jersey: No. 40
Position: EDGE
School: Penn State
Class: Senior
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 253 lbs
Games Watched: Auburn (2021), Ohio State (2021), Maryland (2020), Ohio State (2020)
Major Injury History: None
Player Breakdown
Pass Rush Ability (11.5/15)
Luketa isn’t always 100 percent trying to get to the quarterback, as he is just aware of the play in front of him. He watches the play develop and see if he can disrupt the passing lane or make a play on the ball carrier. The Canadien-born will drop back in coverage when he notices where the ball is going, and get a hand up. He doesn’t always have the best plan of attack on pass-rushing moves, which brings his score down. Luketa could get beat on an initial move and be out of the play.
Explosiveness (9/10)
One of his best traits, Luketa is very explosive moving laterally and is constantly rushing to the ball. His lateral agility helps him move from gap to gap with ease and embarrass blockers. On top of that, once he gets by his blocker, he moves downhill towards the quarterback and disrupts the play. Whether that’s actually getting a hit on the quarterback or getting a hand up to knock down or pick off the ball.
First Step (6/10)
This is Luketa’s worst trait, as he is not always quick off the line. He is best at his first step off the edge, where he uses his explosiveness well. Usually, if his first step doesn’t work, he will fall out of the play as he doesn’t have a solid enough plan to get around.
Bend (7/10)
While he sometimes has issues bending through contact, this trait has its upside. Luketa was only a starting edge rusher for one season but did show an ability to get around the edge quickly. His agility is shown off well and stays low to dip around the corner.
Hand Usage (8.25/10)
Luketa has very quick, powerful, and technical hands that help him break off from blockers. He also has great length that allows him to get leverage and keep it. He keeps his hands up high and rips through contact.
Motor (10/10)
This is Luketa’s best trait, as he has a non-stop motor. Even if he gets pushed out of a play, he stays relentless and attacks the ball. He is always rushing to the ball, looking to make a play on the ball carrier or get a hand up on the pass.
Tackling (7.5/10)
He is a strong open-field tackler as his relentless motor helps him record cleanup tackles. Luketa is a very physical tackler, especially against the run, as he looks to punish the ball carrier. There are times that he will fail to wrap up, but most of the time he will finish the play and get the player on the ground.
Strength at the LOS (8/10)
Luketa is very strong at the line and uses his hands and length to get leverage. He can embarrass linemen and tight ends, while his leverage is so strong. Even against a big 6’8″, 379-pound lineman, like Daniel Faalele, who he absolutely mauled in Senior Bowl practice.
Run Defense (8.75/10)
As he is still fairly new to pass-rushing, Luketa is much stronger against the run. His strength, toughness, explosiveness, and relentless motor make him dangerous in the run game. He is always going downhill towards the ball and gets his hands around a ball carrier to get them down.
Versatility (5/5)
Luketa is a chess piece in any defense, as he can do it all. “Positionless” defensive players are a bit of the new norm in the NFL, which saw guys like Micah Parsons, Luketa’s former teammate, succeed in multiple roles. Parsons was the unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Year last year. While Luketa probably won’t do the same, he can do a lot in a defense, which gives any team a number of roles for him.
Player Summary
Rookie Projections: Rotational Outside Linebacker
Third Year Projections: Starting Outside Linebacker
Final Grade (80.75/100): Early Third-Round Pick
Player Comp: Isaiah Simmons
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
