Missouri heads into its bye week at 5-2 overall and 2-2 in SEC play, and the Tigers have found one of their defensive cornerstones in linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez.
The junior has been one of the most productive defenders in college football this season, and the numbers back it up. Rodriguez is second in the country with 76 tackles, and he has delivered double-digit stops in six of Missouri’s seven games.
That run has included six straight outings with at least 11 tackles. He opened that stretch with 12 against Kansas, then posted 11 against Troy, 13 against Mississippi State, 11 against Florida, 13 against Texas A&M and 13 more in Missouri’s most recent game against Ole Miss.
That kind of week-to-week production has put Rodriguez in a notable place in program history. He became the first Tiger to record double-digit tackles in three consecutive games since Nick Bolton did it in 2019, and now that streak has grown to six in a row.
Rodriguez’s impact hasn’t been limited to tackle totals. Of his 76 tackles, 31 have been solo. The team captain has also added 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and four quarterback hurries, giving Missouri a steady presence all over the field.
His work has already earned recognition. After Missouri’s 45-17 win over Florida in early October, Rodriguez was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week. He finished that game with 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss as the Tigers held Florida to 42 rushing yards and kept one of the nation’s top running backs in check.
Now his season is drawing more national attention too. On Wednesday, The Sporting News released its 2026 midseason All-America college football team, and Rodriguez made the cut at linebacker. He joined teammate Jamal Roberts, who was selected at running back.
Through seven games, Rodriguez has done exactly what Missouri needed from him: show up, rack up stops and set the tone for the defense. As the Tigers turn to the back half of the season, he’ll try to keep this breakout stretch rolling.
In Other News...
Mizzou's Unusual Size Puts One Big Pressure On Dennis Gates
Missouris roster is shaping up to look unlike most in college basketball next season, with size becoming a defining feature of Dennis Gates program. The Tigers now have 13 players listed at six-foot-six or taller and seven at six-foot-nine or taller, a build that gives Gates plenty of lineup options and a very different look than teams that rely on smaller, quicker rotations.
The challenge, of course, is turning all that length into something more than a neat talking point. New transfers Bryson Tiller and Jaylen Carey add versatility and rebounding, while returning pieces like Mark Mitchell and Trent Pierce give Missouri a familiar core, but Gates has made it clear the formula still comes down to defense, the glass and development. With this much size in one room, the real question is how well the Tigers can make it fit. [Read more 🡒]