If you're lucky enough to get a glimpse into Jason Penza's phone, you just might get to see his fingers do some dancing – that is if he'll show you one of the coveted videos stored on it.

They're talented. They move from place to place methodically – dare we say almost magically – as the glorious tunes blare as the camera displays the performance.

It's the black and white keys that are foreign to so many but serve as a place of serenity and peace for the Lafayette sophomore quarterback.

"During Covid I got kind of bored and I looked up how to play songs on the piano and I fell in love with it,"Penza said. "I watched a lot of YouTube videos."

Penza was inspired by his three older siblings, all of whom he said are musically inclined. While they all play at least one instrument and sing, he claims vocals aren't his strong suit. And he mostly leaves the classical tunes to them.

"I like to play songs people can sing along to," he said. "I like to play anything by Elton John and Billy Joel. 'Piano Man' is my favorite."

This season, Penza might be one of the favorite Leopards when his feet – not his fingers – do the dancing on the field.

The 6-foot-2, 197-pounder is known for his explosive speed and ability to weave through defenders.

"I think everybody gets really excited because he can break one at any time, and 9 of 10 times he will get a lot of positive yards," Leopards head coach John Troxell said. "I think the line gets excited and the backs get excited. It's, 'Here we go. Let's see what Jason is going to do.' He's an incredible athlete. You watch him and just say, 'How we can get him the ball and use him because he's really explosive. It's fun to watch him. He creates problems for other teams."

Having a sophomore QB with his talent creates depth and options for Troxell and Co.

The Leopards already have a talented and experienced senior quarterback in Dean DeNobile. But after breaking his ankle in the postseason two years ago, DeNobile struggled to get his speed and mobility back last year.

While DeNobile was still Lafayette's go-to guy, the Leopards needed more of a running threat.

Enter Penza.

He was thrown into the fire and barely missed a beat.

In seven games as a freshman, Penza ran the ball 28 times for 171 yards, 52 of which came against Bucknell. He completed five of his six passing attempts for 31 yards.

This year, Penza is already making his mark. In three games, the Illinois native has rushed 12 times for 74 yards, including his first career touchdown.

So exactly how do the two quarterbacks get along and handle the situation?

"We definitely go over film all the time," DeNobile said. "He's a kid who wants to learn, He's very curious, which I love about him. He's always asking me questions and that helps me as well. I look at it as if I can teach it, it makes me an even better player. I'm excited for him because he picks things up very quickly. He's smart and very athletic."

DeNobile was quick to admit he's not going to take him on in a sprint anytime soon.

"He would smoke me in a 50-yard race for sure," DeNobile said. "I think maybe a 10 I can maybe beat him. But a 50 or 100, he would definitely smoke me."

Beating him in a race hasn't even crossed Penza's mind. He just wants to pick DeNobile's brain as much as possible and learn from a more experienced and seasoned quarterback – whether it's questions about the playbook, a specific formation, film or how to best approach the mental aspect of the game – DeNobile is Penza's go-to guy.

"Dean is a big help to me," he said. "He's a great mental guy for me. I get very frustrated. He's one of my best friends here too. He just left my room. He taught me how to watch film, how to approach the game as a D-1 quarterback, which is different than what a coach can do. When you have an older guy to show you the ropes and how it's done, especially at quarterback because you have to be a leader because the rest of the team is looking to you – that's just great. He's been great. He's willing to help any way he can, which is awesome."

Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach T.J. DiMuzio has even found himself surprised at how well the two have been working together without either being jealous of the other or dismissive of the other's success.

"It's really fun to have both of them in the room together because it's such a competitive room and usually just one guy plays," DiMuzio said. "But we have such a talented room. I have been really happy with Jason's progress from freshman to sophomore year. What I'm very appreciative of is Dean's availability to Jason. When you are competitive for the same spot, it could get awkward. But, he doesn't let that happen. Jason is willing to ask questions, and he is willing to use Dean as a resource. They have a very good relationship. They are friends. So that always helps. Dean wants to win, and he wants to be the guy to help us win. But, he knows there maybe some stuff that Jason could do to help us win."

No doubt that's the case.

But DiMuzio still has a list of areas he wants to see Penza improve upon. With two-plus years left at Lafayette, there's definitely time for him to check those things off the list.

The one activity that won't be added to that list is wakeboarding. For years, it was Penza's passion – so much so that for a time he thought about trying to do it professionally. But when his love of football started growing, he realized there was no room for both, and he completely gave up wakeboarding.

"It's like snowboarding on the water," he explained. "You have a board and boots on and you're strapped in and you can be behind a boat. They put on all these ramps and things you can do tricks off of them. You get on this cable and there's a line around the lake and the cable takes you around and around until you get tired.

"I was very good. I probably am not anymore. You can get injured very easily, so I had to stop my junior year of high school."

Chasing Penza in the open field is a lot like wakeboarding. You never feel like you've got your balance.

But whether he is on the football field or at the piano, Penza is getting more and more comfortable.

That will be a problem for Lafayette football foes who would rather him do his best 'Piano Man' imitation than a celebration after a long, momentum-changing run.