Rocco played linebacker for Joe Paterno at Penn State earning letters in 1979 and 1980. He played in the 1979 Liberty Bowl and the 1980 Fiesta Bowl for the Nittany Lions. He then transferred to Wake Forest under then head coach Al Groh where he started for two more seasons at outside linebacker in 1982 and 1983. He was named team captain of the Demon Deacons in 1983.