Luketa closing in on NFL dream

TSN Football Insider

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Jesse Luketa’s arrival on the National Football League’s doorstep feels like destiny.

It’s the result of a journey he set in motion as a child, growing up as the youngest of eight in the south end of Ottawa, begging his mother, Rose, for an opportunity to play football.

Once enrolled in youth football, Luketa immediately began calculating how he would get himself to the highest levels of the sport to make his dreams come true.

“At the age of 10, I would literally send emails every single day to institutions across the United States, introducing myself and basically explaining my financial situation and my aspirations of playing football at the highest level,” recalls Luketa. “Some schools responded, others did not.

“I would send emails to NFL agents as well. My brother laughed at me, but he said that was the day he knew I was different. I sent about 100 emails to agents and there were like, three agents who responded. They laughed at me and said, ‘When you’re ready, come contact me again.’”

Luketa is ready, although he’s no longer in need of representation. He signed in January with Klutch Sports Group, the agency founded by Rich Paul, close associate of NBA superstar LeBron James, following four years at linebacker for the Penn State Nittany Lions, the team the 23-year-old chose for himself when he was just a child.

Luketa was fascinated by Penn State’s tradition of great linebackers and dreamed that one day he would join a list that includes LaVar Arrington, NaVorro Bowman, Sean Lee, and Paul Posluszny.

When the recruiting process heated up while he was in high school in Erie, Pa., he accepted just one official visit – Penn State.

“I’ve always been that kid, from a very young age,