NFL Draft Profile: Jesse Luketa, Linebacker, Penn State Nittany Lions

NFL draft profile scouting report for Penn State linebacker, Jesse Luketa

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#40
Pos: LB
Ht: 6027
Wt: 253
Hand: 1038
Arm: 3258
Wing: 7868
40: 4.89
Bench: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Vert: 37.5
Broad: 0906
DOB: 1/15/99
Eligible: 2022
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Mercyhurst Prep

Jesse Luketa
Penn State Nittany Lions

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One-Liners

Luketa is a high-ceiling prospect with three-down potential thanks to his downhill ability and traits in coverage; still, he must improve the technical aspects of his game before he can consistently contribute in the NFL.

Pros:

Athletes with size, versatility and movement skills are often coveted come draft day. Jesse Luketa is a big, long linebacker with impressive lateral burst and change of direction ability. He has experience in both an on-ball and off-ball role. His best play comes against the run. From his 2021 rush linebacker spot, Luketa’s change of direction and lateral burst gave blockers fits. He keeps his eyes on the ball carrier and makes plays through engagement. From an off-ball alignment, he plays with sound gap integrity; what’s more, his knack for navigating traffic and reading blocks allows him to two-gap from the second level. The Penn State defender has the range to handle outside runs or chase down ball carriers from the back side. He is a sure tackler at the point of contact with a wide radius thanks to his length and burst. He also has the traits to beat blockers in the box with flexibility and speed or a bench press move. Further, Luketa has the tools to thrive in coverage. He flashes route recognition and spatial awareness. Moreover, he has clean footwork through his transitions and exhibits loose hips to operate in zone. In man, he does not bite on salesmanship and sticks with route runners underneath. As a pass rusher, the linebacker has the speed and flexibility to threaten both the inside and outside track. 

Cons:

Assessing the crossover between play style and skill set is an important aspect of evaluation. Unfortunately, Luketa has not seen significant off-ball snaps, his most favorable NFL projection, since 2020. Regardless of alignment, the athletic linebacker plays high and gives up his chest. Moreover, he is late to employ his hands which invites further contact to his body. In 2021, his improved ability to take on blocks did not mask the fact that linemen control him once they latch on. He lacks variety in his hand moves and has an underwhelming power profile as a pass rusher. What’s more, he clearly enters plays without a pass rush plan. Additionally, Luketa’s notable gap integrity from an off-ball alignment vanishes when he plays on the line of scrimmage. The Penn State defender’s anchor against blockers is inconsistent as well. While the talented linebacker has the traits to succeed in coverage, he must fix certain holes that currently plague his game. For example, he fails to keep track of route runners that enter and exit his zone. Similarly, the Penn State standout gives up depth in coverage. Luketa creates blind spots for himself in zone. In man, he locks his eyes on the quarterback and is manipulated by the passer’s body language. Finally, he lacks top-end linear burst and long speed. 

Summary:

The 2021 Penn State linebacker room was loaded with talent. As a result, Jesse Luketa shifted to a hybrid on-ball role that saw him primarily work downhill. That said, his poor play strength relative to his new position makes his best projection an off-ball alignment. Currently a rosterable backup, Jesse Luketa has NFL starting potential. An excellent mover for his size, he is instinctive against the run and has flashed in man and zone coverage. The linebacker is a strong tackler. Nonetheless, he has concerning play strength to disengage from blockers once they latch on and struggles to process in coverage. He offers immediate special teams value. 

Background:

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on January 15th, 1999 to Rose Luketa. Jesse Shimba Luketa has two brothers, Joe Betu and Gino, and four sisters, Leslie, Laura, Sandrine and Guylaine. At Mercyhurst Prep, Luketa was a three-time letterman and team captain. He was named the Pennsylvania Football News’s 3A Defensive Player of the Year in 2017. He was also awarded Pennsylvania Football News first-team honors in 2016 and 2017. Moreover, he was chosen to be first-team all-region in 2016 and 2017. He earned all-conference honors twice and was named MVP of his team twice. Luketa was listed as a four-star recruit by 247Sports. That same service ranked him as the nation’s tenth best linebacker recruit and Pennsylvania’s ninth-best recruit overall. In his freshman season with the Nittany Lions, Luketa appeared in 12 games. The next season, he played 13 games and made two starts. As a junior, the Canada native saw the field in nine contests and started eight while being named a team captain. He made 59 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and three pass breakups. As a senior in 2021, Luketa forced his way onto the field in a crowded linebacker room by playing a hybrid on-ball role. He stood out as a run defender in his new position. Luketa majors in criminology and has volunteered with the Salvation Army in Canada. 

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Grades

Current Player Value/Potential Player Value

7.0 / 8.3

Floor/Ceiling: Backup Hybrid Defender / Starting Off-Ball Linebacker in Blitz-Heavy Defense

Scheme Fit: MIKE or SAM in a 4-3

Grade: 4th Round

2/5/22 - That's right, the National defensive line was the reason they won the game. Luketa made high-impact plays with his two sacks. He showcased great burst off the snap, the lower-body flexibility to corner and the closing speed to get to quarterbacks Sam Howell and Bailey Zappe before a throw was made. Luketa was an impressive linebacker at Penn State, but might be an even better EDGE. Either way, his versatility is a huge plus and his tape already showed a strong run defender with potential in coverage. His improved pass-rush skills make him a complete player. 

Quotes:

"Teams ask me where I feel most comfortable. I tell them, I play defense. My perception of how I look at things is, I want to be the most disruptive player on the football field." -- Penn State LB Jesse Luketa

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