Overview
- On Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff, 2011 winner Robert Griffin III named Rodriguez his Heisman choice and joined the set in striking the trophy’s signature pose.
- Across 11 games, Rodriguez has 100 tackles, four interceptions, seven forced fumbles, six passes defended, two fumble recoveries and a sack, leading the Big 12 in forced fumbles and interceptions.
- Texas Tech is 10-1 and ranked No. 5, and its defense allows 12.3 points per game to rank third nationally, strengthening Rodriguez’s case on a winning team.
- Rodriguez transferred from Virginia after Bronco Mendenhall’s exit, switched from quarterback to linebacker under Joey McGuire and earned a scholarship after a semester sleeping on his brother’s dorm floor.
- The Sporting News described Rodriguez as a Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist, and he enters a Week 13 bye before a Nov. 29 trip to West Virginia to close the regular season.