Texas Tech University Athletics
Rodriguez named finalist for Walter Camp Player of the Year
December 03, 2025 | Football
Jacob Rodriguez was the lone defensive player selected among the five finalists Wednesday
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was the lone defensive player in the country to be named a finalist Wednesday for Walter Camp National Player of the Year honors.
Rodriguez was joined on the finalist list by three quarterbacks in Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia and Ohio State's Julian Sayin as well as running back Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame. The award is selected by the 136 FBS head coaches and sports communicators across the country and will be announced on ESPN's College Football Live on Dec. 10.
Rodriguez has placed his name in a select category of defensive players historically to be considered for the Walter Camp Foundation's highest honor. He is looking to become only the fifth player on the defensive side of the ball to be named the Walter Camp National Player of the Year since the award's inception in 1967. Rodriguez would join a list that includes former Pittsburgh defensive end Hugh Green (1980), Michigan defensive back Charles Woodson (1997), Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o (2012) and Colorado wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter (2024).
Rodriguez' success this season more than compares to that of Te'o, who recorded 113 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and caused nine takeaways thanks to seven interceptions and two forced fumbles. Te'o was also the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy during his memorable 2012 season, becoming one of two linebackers all-time to get the invite to New York City.
Rodriguez enters the Edward Jones Big 12 Championship on Saturday with 104 tackles of his own this season, including 10.0 that have gone for a loss. His biggest impact has been in the takeaway category, though, as he's responsible for nine forced turnovers this season, all during Big 12 play. Rodriguez is currently the FBS leader with seven forced fumbles this season to go along with four interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Dating back to 2005, Rodriguez is the only FBS player during that span to have at least five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four interceptions all in the same season. He is the driving force behind a Red Raider defense that is tied for second in the FBS with 27 takeaways this season and third nationally in scoring, allowing only 11.3 points per game. Texas Tech is giving up only 68.9 rushing yards a game, easily the lowest average in the country, as the Red Raiders are also sixth in the FBS for total defense at 258.9 yards a contest.
Rodriguez has helped the Red Raiders offensively in recent weeks, coming into the game against both UCF and West Virginia to find the end zone as a Wildcat quarterback. Rodriguez is the only player nationally to have both an offensive and defensive touchdown after previously returning his own forced fumble 69 yards for a score against Oklahoma State.
Rodriguez and his story has captivated the country with appearances of late on SportsCenter, TNT and FOX's Big Noon Kickoff, among others. He is a finalist for numerous awards, including the Butkus Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Chuck Bednarik Award and the Lombardi Award.
Rodriguez will look to lead the Red Raiders to their first Big 12 title Saturday when No. 4 Texas Tech faces No. 11 BYU from AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Coverage will be provided nationally on ABC and the Texas Tech Sports Network.
