Texas Tech University Athletics
Rodriguez wins Bronko Nagurski Trophy
December 08, 2025 | Football
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Texas Tech senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was named the winner of the 2025 Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Monday evening by the Football Writers Association of America and Charlotte Touchdown Club at the annual banquet. The Nagurski Trophy has been presented since 1993 to the nation's most outstanding defensive player by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Rodriguez is the first Red Raider to win the Nagurski Trophy and the first Big 12 recipient since 2009.
He was the lone linebacker among a talented group of finalists that included Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell, and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore. Rodriguez was Texas Tech's first finalist for the award since Pro Football and College Football Hall of Famer Zach Thomas in 1995.
Rodriguez's postseason honors began Friday, when he received the 2025 Butkus Award in a surprise presentation at Texas Tech's team hotel on the eve of the Big 12 Championship. He was in Newport Beach, California, on Sunday night as one of four finalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, and he remains in contention for both the Lombardi Award, to be presented Wednesday in Houston, and the Walter Camp Player of the Year. He is also a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which will be announced on Friday.
Rodriguez helped lead the Red Raiders to their first Big 12 Championship in program history on Saturday, recording a team-high 13 tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss. Entering bowl season, he leads the FBS with seven forced fumbles and ranks among the top 15 nationally with 117 tackles. He is also the first FBS player since 2005 to record at least five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four interceptions in the same season.
His impact anchored a Texas Tech defense that leads the nation with 31 takeaways and ranks third nationally in scoring defense at 10.9 points per game. Rodriguez was responsible for nine takeaways himself — all in Big 12 play.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football's most prestigious awards, and its 24 honors have recognized more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information, visit NCFAA.org or follow @NCFAA on X.
All-Time Bronko Nagurski Trophy Winners
2025: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
2024:Â Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
2023: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
2022: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
2021: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
2020: Zaven Collins, TulsaÂ
2019: Chase Young, Ohio State
2018: Josh Allen, Kentucky
2017: Bradley Chubb, NC State
2016: Jonathan Allen, Alabama
2015: Tyler Matakevich, Temple
2014: Scooby Wright III, Arizona
2013: Aaron Donald, Pitt
2012: Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
2011: Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2010: Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson
2009: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
2008: Brian Orakpo, Texas
2007: Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2006: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2005: Elvis Dumervil, Louisville
2004: Derrick Johnson, Texas
2003: Derrick Strait, Oklahoma
2002: Terrell Suggs, Arizona State
2001: Roy Williams, Oklahoma
2000: Dan Morgan, Miami
1999: Corey Moore, Virginia Tech
1998: Champ Bailey, Georgia
1997: Charles Woodson, Michigan
1996: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
1995: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
1994: Warren Sapp, Miami
1993: Rob Waldrop, Arizona
About the Charlotte Touchdown Club
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Since its inception, the club has grown as well as diversified boasting a sponsor team of more than (80) companies. The Club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership of area athletes and coaches. Through individual and corporate support, more than $3,000,000 has been raised and donated to benefit the Touchdown Club's scholarship efforts.
About the Football Writers AssociationÂ
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
– TECH –
Rodriguez is the first Red Raider to win the Nagurski Trophy and the first Big 12 recipient since 2009.
He was the lone linebacker among a talented group of finalists that included Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell, and Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore. Rodriguez was Texas Tech's first finalist for the award since Pro Football and College Football Hall of Famer Zach Thomas in 1995.
Rodriguez's postseason honors began Friday, when he received the 2025 Butkus Award in a surprise presentation at Texas Tech's team hotel on the eve of the Big 12 Championship. He was in Newport Beach, California, on Sunday night as one of four finalists for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, and he remains in contention for both the Lombardi Award, to be presented Wednesday in Houston, and the Walter Camp Player of the Year. He is also a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which will be announced on Friday.
Rodriguez helped lead the Red Raiders to their first Big 12 Championship in program history on Saturday, recording a team-high 13 tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss. Entering bowl season, he leads the FBS with seven forced fumbles and ranks among the top 15 nationally with 117 tackles. He is also the first FBS player since 2005 to record at least five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four interceptions in the same season.
His impact anchored a Texas Tech defense that leads the nation with 31 takeaways and ranks third nationally in scoring defense at 10.9 points per game. Rodriguez was responsible for nine takeaways himself — all in Big 12 play.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA includes college football's most prestigious awards, and its 24 honors have recognized more than 900 recipients dating back to 1935. For more information, visit NCFAA.org or follow @NCFAA on X.
All-Time Bronko Nagurski Trophy Winners
2025: Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
2024:Â Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
2023: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
2022: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
2021: Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
2020: Zaven Collins, TulsaÂ
2019: Chase Young, Ohio State
2018: Josh Allen, Kentucky
2017: Bradley Chubb, NC State
2016: Jonathan Allen, Alabama
2015: Tyler Matakevich, Temple
2014: Scooby Wright III, Arizona
2013: Aaron Donald, Pitt
2012: Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
2011: Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2010: Da'Quan Bowers, Clemson
2009: Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
2008: Brian Orakpo, Texas
2007: Glenn Dorsey, LSU
2006: James Laurinaitis, Ohio State
2005: Elvis Dumervil, Louisville
2004: Derrick Johnson, Texas
2003: Derrick Strait, Oklahoma
2002: Terrell Suggs, Arizona State
2001: Roy Williams, Oklahoma
2000: Dan Morgan, Miami
1999: Corey Moore, Virginia Tech
1998: Champ Bailey, Georgia
1997: Charles Woodson, Michigan
1996: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
1995: Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
1994: Warren Sapp, Miami
1993: Rob Waldrop, Arizona
About the Charlotte Touchdown Club
The Charlotte Touchdown Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 1990 for the purpose of promoting high school, collegiate, and professional football in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Since its inception, the club has grown as well as diversified boasting a sponsor team of more than (80) companies. The Club's activities and services focus community attention on the outstanding Citizenship, Scholarship, Sportsmanship, and Leadership of area athletes and coaches. Through individual and corporate support, more than $3,000,000 has been raised and donated to benefit the Touchdown Club's scholarship efforts.
About the Football Writers AssociationÂ
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
– TECH –
Players Mentioned
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