Texas Tech University Athletics
Bailey, Rodriguez tabbed Bednarik Award semifinalists
November 11, 2025 | Football
Jacob Rodriguez was also tabbed the National Defensive Player of the Week by the Bednarik Award and Walter Camp Foundation on Tuesday
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and senior outside linebacker David Bailey were both named semifinalists Tuesday for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented to the nation's top defensive player by the Maxwell Football Club.
Â
Texas Tech was one of only two schools to have multiple selections among the 17 semifinalists named Tuesday, joining only top-ranked Ohio State. This is the second national award to feature both Bailey and Rodriguez as semifinalists as the duo both remain a contender for the Lombardi Award. Rodriguez, meanwhile, is also a semifinalist for the Butkus Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Â
The Red Raiders have boasted one of the nation's top defenses this season thanks to the play of both Bailey and Rodriguez. Texas Tech enters this Saturday's home finale with UCF ranked third nationally for both scoring defense, giving up only 12.6 points per game, as well as takeaways with 23 already this season. Texas Tech is also the nation's leader in rush defense as the Red Raiders are allowing only 73.8 yards per game on the ground.
Â
Texas Tech's ability to stop the run has forced opponents to try to throw the ball against one of the best pass-rushes in the country that is led by Bailey, who leads the FBS with 11.5 sacks this season. Bailey has found the quarterback at least once in eight of 10 games thus far as he already ranks sixth in Texas Tech single-season history for sacks with a chance to potentially track down Brandon Sharpe's school record of 15.0 sacks that was set in 2009.
Â
Bailey currently leads the FBS with 66 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, which is 16 more than any other player in the country. He's helped form a talented defensive front opposite fellow outside linebacker Romello Height that leads the Big 12 and ranks tied for 10th nationally with 29.0 sacks. Bailey is the third-highest rated defensive player in the country by PFF at 92.5 overall, trailing only Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. (93.8) and his teammate in Rodriguez (93.5).
Â
Rodriguez has been one of the main catalysts behind Texas Tech's impressive defensive turnarounds as he leads the Red Raiders with 91 tackles to go along with an FBS-leading seven forced fumbles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He has recorded 9.5 tackles for loss, the second-highest total on the team behind only Bailey's impressive 15.0 stops.
Â
Rodriguez has had his impact best felt through takeaways, though, as he's produced eight so far this season, all during Big 12 play. His ability to give the ball back to the Red Raider offense has placed Rodriguez in a select category of players who have impacted the game at the highest level. In fact, Rodriguez is one of two FBS players since 2005 to have at least five forced fumbles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries all in the same season, joining former Buffalo standout Khalil Mack in 2013. His seven forced fumbles are already ranked tied for seventh since the NCAA began tracking the category beginning with the 2000 season.
Â
In addition to being named a Bednarik Award semifinalist Tuesday, the Maxwell Football Club also tabbed him as the organization's National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance last weekend versus No. 7 BYU. The Walter Camp Foundation also did the same, giving Rodriguez four national Defensive Player of the Week recognitions through Tuesday. Rodriguez was previously tabbed the National Defensive Player of the Week by the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Panini Senior Bowl on Monday, while also garnering Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Â
Rodriguez matched his season high with 14 tackles in the top-10 win over the Cougars, pacing a Red Raider defense that allowed its fewest points to a top-10 team since defeating No. 8 Texas A&M, 14-7, in 1995. Rodriguez added his third interception of the season in the win, while also falling on a loose ball for a late fumble recovery that sealed Texas Tech's ninth win of the season, its most since 2009. The Red Raiders limited BYU to only 67 rushing yards, including only 35 to LJ Martin, who entered as the Big 12's leading rusher.
The duo of Bailey and Rodriguez will look to push Texas Tech's win total to double digits Saturday when the Red Raiders welcome UCF for Senior Day inside Jones AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. with coverage on FOX and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
