Jacob Rodriguez Q&A: Texas Tech LB Talks 2026 NFL Draft, Career Journey
Jacob Rodriguez is one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The star linebacker changed positions at Texas Tech after beginning his college career as a quarterback at Virginia. Rodriguez eventually emerged as one of the top defensive players in the country during his final year at Texas Tech, winning just about every major award for a linebacker while finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting and ending the year as a unanimous All-America selection.
Rodriguez also led the nation with seven forced fumbles, to go along with four interceptions.
The 23-year-old linebacker recently spoke with Athlon Sports to discuss his football journey, his preparation for the draft and some of the players he admired while growing up.
Also see:
● Farrar: Watching Tape With Jacob Rodriguez
● Easterling/Farrar: Updated First-Round Mock Draft
● Easterling's Top 300 draft prospects
● Athlon Sports NFL Draft hub
[Editor's note: The following transcript has been lightly edited for readability.]
Q: Obviously, you went through the combine. How was that whole process and how were your meetings with teams? Did you meet with any notable teams?
Rodriguez: Yeah, I had a really fun process. I started down at Fort Myers after the season, at X3 with Jordan Luallen and the amazing work that he does. I was able to go to Senior Bowl. I got invited to that, and I was able to go to the combine as well, just the amazing people I was able to meet along the way. You get to meet and shake hands and get in front of so many people who are important in the NFL. That's just a great opportunity to continue to play football and continue to be around something you want to be since you're really little.
I was very fortunate to be a part of that. It was a lot of fun. I got to meet with a lot of different teams, and I can't really pinpoint one better than the other. They're all different in their own way. Getting able to meet so many new people, and so many people that you get to see on TV all the time and shake their hand and realize that they love football, just like you do, and so that was a really great experience.
I was able to fill my wife in and fill my family in on all the experiences that have gone on for me these last couple months. I'm just looking forward to the future.
Q: I know you can't really name standout meetings so to speak. But can you name teams that you met with that where you kind of had long meetings?
Rodriguez: Not necessarily. Like I said, I don't think anything was different than the other. Each team had their own personality. At the combine, you get a specific amount of time to meet with everybody. It was great from going to the Senior Bowl, where you're shuffling from team to team and going to the combine. It's been a fun experience, something completely different than I ever thought. But you know how it's kind of worked out, and how it's done, it's been awesome. There's a lot of teams I'd be very fortunate to go to, and very happy with everybody I've got to meet from each one.
Q: You have an interesting backstory as a former a quarterback who became a linebacker. Were there certain players that you looked up to while growing up? I'm guessing you looked up to quarterbacks originally.
Rodriguez: I was actually a big Brett Favre fan while growing up. I thought his arm talent, the gunslinger is something that is incredible. He was one of my big favorites growing up. And then even before I played linebacker, always watching Luke Kuechly and guys like that, who are super instinctive and super smart and intelligent, play the game at a super high level.
I just wanted nothing more than to play the game the right way that it was supposed to be played. I feel like I grew up watching all these great players compete and perform. I was just happy to see those guys and see the game played the right way.
Q: Those are two high profile Hall of Fame players that you just brought up. Have you gotten the chance to speak to either of them? And out of curiosity, which team did you grow up a fan of?
Rodriguez: I actually haven't gotten speak to either of them. I've kind of gotten set up with with Luke a couple of times, but he's so busy and doing what he's doing, being inducted to the Hall of Fame this year, it's unbelievable. I'm excited to meet more and more as the years go on and my career continues to grow.
But I grew up a Minnesota Vikings fan so there was [the 2009 season]. They went to the NFC championship and played the Saints. A big Adrian Peterson fan growing up, Harrison Smith, Chad Greenway and Jared Allen on the other side, all these Minnesota Vikings greats. There's a lot of fun watching, but it's a little different now that you know you're about to join that long line of fraternity.
Q: I've interviewed Kuechly before. He's ridiculously smart, very quick witted. If you had the chance to speak to him, what is the first question you would ask him? How would you pick his brain?
Rodriguez: I would just ask him, what does the week look like for him? What process would he go through to prepare himself for a game? To see if he knows exactly what offensive plays are about to happen. I'd love to have that. I'd love to have that as well, I'd love to know where the ball's going before it snaps, and just how he processes day-to-day life, and how he goes about week to week, and even in the offseason what his day-to-day routine looks like. Somebody that has a proven tracker record, obviously made it to the Hall of Fame. It worked out for him. I'd love to try to obviously follow in his footsteps of greatness and excellence at the position.
Jacob Rodriguez photo gallery
Q: One of those playmakers that you played with at Texas Tech was [edge defender] David Bailey. Talk about what type of player he is. Who does he remind you of as a player? Can you compare him to anybody?
Rodriguez: I don't know if I can accurately compare him to anybody. I wouldn't have a good comp for him right now, but he's so fluid, he's such a hard worker, and he carries himself the right way. He's very soft spoken, very quiet. But on the field, he truly knows how to play the game of football. He's athletically one of the most gifted that I've ever been around. But then as a person, he's great. He's a tremendous person and tremendous friend.
I'm so excited to see where he lands in the draft and his life that's going to be set up for him. I think he's going to be successful wherever he goes, along with any of those other guys up front. He's such a good football player that the first time that he was on campus and I got to see him practice, I just started laughing because of how good of a special player he is.
Q: Any rookie season objectives for you?
Rodriguez: Nothing yet. I want to focus more on making the team and focusing on being the best in my role that I can. But no statistics or anything set. Just more so team success and just trying to have the best attitude in the building every day.
Related: Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez Watches Tape With Athlon Sports
Related: Jacob Rodriguez NFL Draft Scouting Report
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 9:06 AM.