Jacob Rodriguez
Jacob Rodriguez (born September 6, 2002) is an American professional football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers and Texas Tech Red Raiders and was selected by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft.
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| Miami Dolphins |
|---|
| Linebacker |
| Unsigned draft pick |
| (2002-09-06) September 6, 2002Hastings, Minnesota, U.S. |
| 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| 231 lb (105 kg) |
| S. H. Rider (Wichita Falls, Texas) |
| Virginia (2021)Texas Tech (2022–2025) |
| 2026: 2nd round, 43rd overall |
| Miami Dolphins (2026–present) |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2025) |
| Butkus Award (2025) |
| Lombardi Award (2025) |
| Chuck Bednarik Award (2025) |
| Unanimous All-American (2025) |
| Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2025) |
| 2× First-team All-Big 12 (2024, 2025) |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference |
Jacob Rodriguez (born September 6, 2002) is an American professional football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers and Texas Tech Red Raiders and was selected by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft.
Rodriguez's seven forced fumbles in the 2025 season tied a single-season NCAA record.
Rodriguez was born in Hastings, Minnesota, to Joe and Ann Rodriguez. He moved to Wichita Falls, Texas, with his family at age 10.
Rodriguez attended S. H. Rider High School in Wichita Falls. He was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Virginia Cavaliers.
As a freshman in 2021, Rodriguez played all 12 games as a quarterback and a "football player," notching 10 carries for 56 yards and hauling in eight receptions for 65 yards. After the season, he entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.
Rodriguez transferred to play for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, where he switched to linebacker. In his first season with Texas Tech in 2022, he appeared in 12 games where he notched 29 tackles with two being for a loss, and a forced fumble. In week 10 of the 2023 season, Rodriguez notched six tackles in a win over TCU. He finished the 2023 season playing in just five games due to injury, where he totaled 32 tackles with one being for a loss, two pass deflections, an interception, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. In week 6 of the 2024 season, Rodriguez was named the Bednarik Defensive player of the week after notching 13 tackles with one being for a loss, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble in a win over Arizona. In week 10, he tallied 13 tackles with two and a half being for a loss, and two sacks in an upset win over Iowa State, earning Big 12 defensive player of the week honors.
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
Rodriguez was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round with the 43rd overall pick of the 2026 NFL draft.
Rodriguez is a Christian. He married his wife Emma on July 1, 2023. She is as an aviation officer in the United States Army and flies the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
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- Texas Tech Red Raiders bio
- Virginia Cavaliers bio