If you’ve followed college football this year, you know this much: No. 6 Texas Tech is no fluke. The Red Raiders have muscled their way into both the Big 12 and national spotlight, and at the center of that rise is a player who doesn’t usually get Heisman-level attention — senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
In a sport where quarterbacks dominate the headlines and awards conversations, Rodriguez has become the rare defensive star capable of changing games the way an elite signal-caller would. His impact has been so undeniable that PFF College named him among its top five Heisman candidates, making him the only non-quarterback on the list. For a defender to break into that territory, you need both big numbers and big wins. Rodriguez has delivered both.
The Defensive Engine Behind a 9–1 Start
Texas Tech sits at 9–1, a record built not just on offensive firepower but on a defense that has grown into one of the most reliable units in the conference. Their résumé includes wins over No. 16 Utah and No. 7 BYU, victories that highlighted the team’s physicality and resilience — and showcased Rodriguez’s playmaking ability.
Their lone setback came in a tight 26–22 loss to Arizona State, a game complicated by the absence of starting quarterback Behren Morton. Even then, the Red Raiders were competitive until the final moments, thanks in part to the steadiness of their defense.
A Stats Sheet That Reads Like a Defensive MVP Resume
Rodriguez isn’t just having a good season — he’s having the kind of season that defines careers. Through 10 games, he has racked up:
48 solo tackles
1 sack
3 interceptions
7 forced fumbles (a staggering number at any level)
Forced fumbles are one of the clearest indicators of defensive instinct and game-changing ability, and Rodriguez leads the nation in that category. When Texas Tech needs a spark, he often provides it.
His performance against Utah may end up being one of the signature defensive games of the season: 11 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception in a win over a ranked opponent. That’s the type of outing that not only flips momentum in a single game but also elevates a player's national profile.
Heisman Company: Quarterbacks and… Rodriguez
PFF’s top five Heisman candidates include some of the biggest quarterback names in the country:
Julian Sayin (Ohio State)
Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)
Ty Simpson (Alabama)
Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt)
Then there’s Rodriguez — standing alone as the defensive representative.
The message is clear: his value isn’t just statistical; it’s transformational. Texas Tech isn’t a top-six team without him. And in a Heisman race where voters often look for storylines and impact, Rodriguez is building the kind of narrative that makes people reconsider what the award should represent.
The Road Ahead: UCF, West Virginia, and a Playoff Push
Texas Tech’s final two regular-season games — against UCF and West Virginia — offer Rodriguez more chances to cement his case and help push the Red Raiders toward a College Football Playoff berth. If he continues to disrupt offenses the way he has all season, there’s no reason to think Tech can’t finish strong.
A linebacker becoming a true Heisman contender is rare. But a linebacker leading his team into the playoff conversation? Even rarer.
