Commanders sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez looked up to Antonio Gibson

The Washington Commanders selected Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Rodriguez joins a backfield that includes 2020 third-round pick Antonio Gibson. That’s significant as Rodriguez and Gibson grew up in the same town of McDonough, Georgia.

Gibson attended Eagle’s Landing in high school while Rodriguez played at Ola. After getting selected by Washington, Rodriguez told the DC media he idolized Gibson.

“I looked up to him,” Rodriguez said, per John Keim of ESPN. “When I was a freshman [in high school], we played them. He was The Guy on the team and a guy I followed. I watch everything he does, if he knows it or not.”

Now, Rodriguez will get the opportunity to be on the same team as Gibson. Both should have a role within offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s offense with last year’s third-round pick Brian Robinson Jr.

Rodriguez is more of a physical runner than Robinson and Gibson at 6 feet and 217 pounds.

Rodriguez also has a history with Commanders linebacker Jamin Davis. The two were teammates at Kentucky for three years.

After redshirting as a freshman, Chris Rodriguez rushed for 3600 and 33 touchdowns on 6.1 yards per rush through four seasons at Kentucky. In 2021, he rushed for 1,378 yards and ten touchdowns as a junior. Last season, he was suspended for the first four games due to a DUI arrest. However, he got on the field and rushed for 904 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games.

Through it all, Rodriguez thought about his mother after getting his name called on Saturday. His mother passed away in January after having Lupus.

“I tell everybody my mom is my biggest motivation,” Rodriguez said, per Keim. “It’s hard [that] I’m not sharing this moment with her. I know she’s looking down, and she’s proud of me. I’ll continue to make her proud.”