Overview
- Rodriguez received the Bronko Nagurski Award on Monday night in Charlotte as the nation’s top defensive player.
- He was left out of the four Heisman finalists named Dec. 9, a group featuring QBs Fernando Mendoza, Diego Pavia, Julian Sayin and RB Jeremiyah Love.
- The senior posted 114 tackles, four interceptions and an FBS‑leading seven forced fumbles for a defense ranked fifth nationally.
- He previously won the Butkus Award and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, and he is the first Texas Tech defender to claim the Nagurski.
- Public figures including Robert Griffin III, Leger Douzable and alumnus Patrick Mahomes publicly backed his candidacy or criticized his omission.