Penn State linebacker Jesse Luketa hopes to feast again on Rutgers

Sunday was different for Penn State linebacker Jesse Luketa.

For the first time this season, he watched game film with his teammates and enjoyed a win — a 27-17 triumph at Michigan the day before.

“It was a great feeling,” Luketa said during a video conference with media Tuesday. “Dealing with our situation, it’s a great feeling to finally get the first (win). So everything felt better just being in there with the guys watching the film. Just making that transition to our next opponent, which is Rutgers. So we’re excited to get back to work.”

As great as Sunday might have felt, Monday might have been better.

Luketa and his teammates feasted at what coach James Franklin dubbed a “victory Monday dinner.”

“Oh, it was sensational,” Luketa said. “I enjoyed those milkshakes. I had to take two to go. I still have one in the fridge. From the ribs that we had, to the fries, to the chicken burgers, to the crab legs, to the pasta, it was a great meal.”

Luketa and company were able to dine extravagantly as they did this week thanks to a stiff defense that limited Michigan to four conversions on 12 third-down attempts.

“We want to own that,” Luketa said. “We want to go out there and establish ourselves, establish our physicality from that standpoint. Especially on the money down. Third down for us is what we refer to when we need to get off the field. We wanted to be aggressive.

“We had a lot of opportunities with third-and-short, fourth-and-short situations. … I had a play where I led the charge, and that’s the standard. That’s what we need to do week in and week out is be dominant and play on the other side of the line of scrimmage.”

If the Nittany Lions are to get a second consecutive hearty dinner, they’ll have to do the same at noon Saturday at Rutgers.

“They’re a very talented offense,” Luketa said. “Their running back (Isaih Pacheco), he’s a very talented back. He runs the rock very hungry every single snap he gets. Even when he doesn’t have the ball, he’s a high-motor guy.”

Even at 1-5, Luketa professes he and his teammates are committed to finishing the season strong.

“For many people, they think leadership comes early when things are going as planned and whatnot, but leadership is truly tested at times of diversity when things aren’t going your way,” Luketa said. “The one thing that I commend our guys for is we stay together. We’re still a tight family. We lean on one another for support.

“Normally, that’s uncommon. In a lot of situations, you would expect guys to rift and start tearing each other apart. That was never us. We’re a family. That’s one of the reasons why I love my team so much.”