From Quarterback to Defensive Star: How Jacob Rodriguez Became the Heart of Texas Tech’s CFP-Bound Defense
For the first time in program history, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are headed to the College Football Playoff - and they’re doing it with one of the most unlikely defensive leaders in the country. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has emerged as the engine of a Red Raiders defense that’s turned heads all season, and his journey to this moment is nothing short of remarkable.
Rodriguez leads Texas Tech with 117 total tackles this season, a number that only begins to tell the story of his impact. He’s been the tone-setter, the communicator, and the playmaker in the middle of a defense that helped carry Tech to a CFP quarterfinal showdown against Oregon in the Orange Bowl. But rewind just a few years, and Rodriguez wasn’t even playing defense - in fact, he wasn’t even at Texas Tech.
The Offensive Beginnings
Rodriguez’s football story starts in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he starred at Rider High School as a dual-threat quarterback and free safety. The numbers were eye-popping: over 7,000 passing yards, 68 passing touchdowns, 3,000 rushing yards, and another 38 scores on the ground. He led Rider to two state semifinal appearances and showed the kind of athleticism that made him a coveted recruit.
But Rodriguez wasn’t just a football player. He was a multi-sport athlete, competing in basketball and track and field - long jump, triple jump, relays - you name it, he did it. That versatility caught the attention of college recruiters, and by the time he wrapped up his high school career, he was rated as a three-star “athlete” by 247Sports, the No. 26 player in the country at that designation.
Committing to Virginia - as a Quarterback
Rodriguez had offers from several Power Five schools, including Baylor, Houston, Indiana, Kansas State, and Iowa State. But it was Virginia that landed his commitment in April 2020 - and importantly, the Cavaliers wanted him as a quarterback.
That mattered to Rodriguez. He’s long had aspirations of coaching after his playing days, and he believed learning the quarterback position at the college level would give him a better understanding of the game as a whole.
“I feel like learning the quarterback position at the college level gives me a better understanding of play calls and how to learn how to do things as a whole on offense,” he said at the time.
At Virginia, Rodriguez saw the field in all 12 games as a true freshman - but not under center. He lined up at wide receiver, fullback, and even took snaps as a runner.
He finished the 2021 season with eight receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown, plus 10 carries for 56 yards. The Cavaliers coaching staff had visions of turning him into their own version of Taysom Hill - a do-it-all weapon who could line up anywhere.
But after head coach Bronco Mendenhall stepped down at the end of the 2021 season, Rodriguez’s time in Charlottesville came to a close. He entered the transfer portal that December.
“I loved it there and loved the people there,” Rodriguez said. “But I kind of went there to play for [Mendenhall].”
A New Home - and a New Position - at Texas Tech
Enter Joey McGuire. The Texas Tech head coach had recruited Rodriguez back when he was at Baylor, and when Rodriguez hit the portal, McGuire offered him a spot in Lubbock - initially as a walk-on.
But it came with a catch: no more quarterback. If Rodriguez wanted to play, it would be on defense.
Rodriguez accepted the challenge. And before the 2022 season kicked off, he was awarded a scholarship.
The transition wasn’t easy. Learning to play linebacker at the Power Five level is no small task, especially for someone who hadn’t focused on defense since high school. But Rodriguez embraced the grind.
“Really just knowing that I can make an impact whatever position I play,” he said. “I’ve done it on the offensive side of the ball, I’ve done it on the defensive side of the ball, and I’ve done it on special teams.
I can really play with anybody. That’s kind of when I figured I can do this.”
From Project to Playmaker
Rodriguez’s first season at linebacker in 2022 was a learning year - 29 total tackles, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. In 2023, he took a step forward with 32 tackles and his first career interception. But it was the 2024 and 2025 seasons where he truly broke out.
Over the past two years, Rodriguez has racked up a combined 244 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, six sacks, five interceptions, and 10 forced fumbles. That’s not just production - that’s dominance.
Here’s a look at his year-by-year progression:
| Season | Team | Pos | G | Solo | Total Tackles | TFL | Sack | INT | FF |
|---|
| 2021 | Virginia | QB | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2022 | Texas Tech | LB | 12 | 17 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | Texas Tech | LB | 5 | 21 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | | 2024 | Texas Tech | LB | 13 | 77 | 127 | 10.5| 5 | 1 | 3 |
| 2025 | Texas Tech | LB | 13 | 61 | 117 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 7 |
Rodriguez has become the kind of player who shows up everywhere on the field. He’s stuffing the run, dropping into coverage, forcing turnovers, and setting the tone for a defense that’s been the backbone of Tech’s historic season.
Awards Season Recognition
Rodriguez’s monster 2025 campaign didn’t go unnoticed. He took home several national awards for his play, and while he didn’t receive an invitation to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, he still finished fifth in the voting - an incredible feat for a defensive player. He even earned 17 first-place votes.
The Heart of a Playoff Defense
Now, Rodriguez is preparing to lead Texas Tech into the biggest game in program history - a College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Oregon in the Orange Bowl. It's a long way from where his college journey started, and even further from where it was expected to go.
But that’s what makes Rodriguez’s story so compelling. He’s not just a linebacker.
He’s a quarterback-turned-utility-man-turned-defensive-star who’s built his success on adaptability, toughness, and a relentless work ethic. He’s the kind of player coaches dream about and teammates rally around.
And as Texas Tech gets ready for its biggest stage yet, there’s no question who’s at the center of it all. Jacob Rodriguez isn’t just a key piece of the Red Raiders’ defense - he is the identity of it.