Dolphins select Jacob Rodriguez No. 43 in second round of NFL Draft

Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was selected No. 43 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday. Rodriguez becomes the second Red Raider selected this week, joining David Bailey, who went No. 2 overall to the New York Jets on Thursday.

Rodriguez will team up with former Red Raider and All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks in Miami. He is the first Texas Tech linebacker selected in the NFL Draft since Brooks and joins a franchise where Hall of Famer Zach Thomas starred for 12 seasons.

Rodriguez will also return to Hard Rock Stadium, the site of his final collegiate game, where he helped lead Texas Tech to a Big 12 Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

One of the most decorated players in college football in 2025, Rodriguez nearly swept the nation's top defensive honors, winning the Butkus Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and Lombardi Trophy. He became the first Red Raider to win any of those awards and just the third player in history to claim the Butkus, Nagurski and Bednarik awards in the same season, joining Dan Morgan (2000) and Manti Te'o (2012).

Rodriguez was also named the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year on April 16, recognizing the FBS player who best exemplifies leadership, integrity and sportsmanship.

He becomes the 11th Red Raider all-time selected in the NFL Draft's first two rounds and the third under head coach Joey McGuire, joining Tyree Wilson (No. 7 overall, 2023) and Bailey earlier in this year's draft.

A two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, Rodriguez was the program's first Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and served as a team captain in 2025. He anchored a defense that posted one of the largest single-season improvements in FBS history, lowering scoring by 23.0 points per game and total defense by 203.2 yards per game.

Rodriguez started all 14 games in 2025 and 31 over his career, finishing his senior season with 128 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss and a sack. He was especially impactful creating turnovers, totaling seven forced fumbles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries, along with six pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.

He became the first FBS player since 2005 to record at least five forced fumbles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in a single season. Rodriguez finished his career with 19 takeaways, including nine as a senior, helping Texas Tech lead the FBS with 32 takeaways.