Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez Poised for NFL After Standout Senior Season

Linebacker known for his ability to force fumbles is generating interest from teams like the Dallas Cowboys ahead of the NFL Draft

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:24pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is generating significant interest from NFL teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, ahead of next month's draft. Rodriguez had a standout senior season, leading the country in forced fumbles and winning multiple defensive awards, including the Butkus Award. His ability to punch the ball out and create turnovers has made him an appealing prospect, and he impressed at the Senior Bowl with a dominant performance that included two forced fumbles and an interception.

Why it matters

Rodriguez's propensity for forcing fumbles is a highly valuable skill for an NFL linebacker, as takeaways are crucial for defensive success at the professional level. His performance has drawn the attention of teams like the Cowboys, who are looking to bolster their defense through the draft. Rodriguez's story also highlights the importance of player development, as he transitioned from a quarterback to a standout linebacker through hard work and dedication.

The details

Rodriguez started his college career as a quarterback at Virginia before transferring to Texas Tech and switching to linebacker. He struggled with the physicality of the position at first, but he dedicated himself to getting stronger and improving his technique. Rodriguez's ability to time his punches and know when to go for the ball has made him a nightmare for offenses, with Texas Tech's coaches saying the offense hated going against him. His standout performance at the Senior Bowl, where he forced two fumbles and had an interception, further cemented his status as a top draft prospect.

  • Rodriguez forced seven forced fumbles during the 2025 season, improving on the combined six he forced in his first three years at Texas Tech.
  • At the 2026 Senior Bowl, Rodriguez had a dominant stretch of plays where he forced two fumbles and had an interception.

The players

Jacob Rodriguez

A linebacker at Texas Tech who was a unanimous All-American and Butkus Award winner in 2025, and is now generating significant interest from NFL teams as a potential early-round draft pick.

Joey McGuire

The head football coach at Texas Tech, who has praised Rodriguez's intentionality and ability to time his punches to force fumbles.

Dallas Cowboys

An NFL team that has shown interest in Rodriguez, with representatives meeting with him at his pro day and having him over for dinner the night before.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He's got a knack for it,”

— Joey McGuire, Texas Tech Head Coach

“Everything he does, he does it with intentionality,”

— Joey McGuire, Texas Tech Head Coach

“You have to do it every play. I always say the hard part is getting to the football; the reward for getting to the football is taking a chance at taking it away. That's kind of how you should play the game of football. I don't think you should ever be on your heels as a defensive player, but you should be attacking the ball every chance you get.”

— Jacob Rodriguez

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.