Does Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez have a legitimate Heisman case?

Editorial Team
Does Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez have a legitimate Heisman case? image

A defensive player winning the Heisman Trophy is one of college football’s rarest feats. The award, given annually since 1935 to the top player in the nation, has historically gone to quarterbacks or electric offensive playmakers, those who dominate highlight reels and box scores. But every so often, a defensive star forces the conversation. This year, that player might just be Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.

Through 11 weeks, Rodriguez has built a résumé that’s impossible to ignore. The senior linebacker leads the Red Raiders with 48 solo tackles, 10 total turnovers, and seven forced fumbles. (!) That’s an impressive number that places him among the most disruptive defenders in the country. He’s been the engine of a Texas Tech defense that’s powered the team to a 9–1 start and a legitimate Big 12 title push.

It’s not just production though, it’s impact. Every week, Rodriguez finds new ways to tilt the field in Texas Tech’s favor, whether he’s punching the ball out, making a crucial stop, or setting the tone in run defense. His consistency has elevated the Red Raiders into national relevance, and his play has earned attention from across the college football landscape.

If Rodriguez’s numbers sound impressive, they are. The last time a defensive player even sniffed the Heisman was in 2012, when Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o finished runner-up to Johnny Manziel. Te’o posted 113 tackles and seven total turnovers that year. Rodriguez is currently averaging more tackles per game (8.8) and has already surpassed Te’o’s turnover total, with games still left to play. One more sack, and he’ll even top Te’o’s pass-rushing numbers.

All this to say, if Te’o made it to New York as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy and came runner-up to one of the best Heisman winners ever, why can’t Jacob Rodriguez win it in a year that has lackluster candidates on the offensive side of the ball?

That kind of production should command Heisman attention, especially in a year when the offensive race lacks a clear frontrunner. While quarterbacks like Alabama’s Ty Simpson, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza headline most conversations, none have truly separated themselves. In a wide-open race, why not give a defender his due?

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire agrees. "The Heisman is given to the best football player. It’s not given to the best quarterback; they have awards for that," McGuire said. "If you can’t say that Jacob Rodriguez, at his position, is not playing at an elite level, as good as anybody in the country…That kid deserves to be part of that."

For a program that’s long waited for a moment like this, Rodriguez represents more than elite play, he embodies a resurgence. Texas Tech is back in national conversations, fueled by a relentless defense and a leader in Jacob Rodru

If the Heisman truly honors college football’s most outstanding player, not just its most popular position, then Jacob Rodriguez deserves a seat in New York.

Why not Rodriguez?



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