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Dec 6, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) celebrates after the game against the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

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New York Giants Draft Prospect Profile: LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech

Originally posted on New York Giants on SI
By Nick Falato | Last updated Apr 12, 2026 12:00 PM ET

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LB Jacob Rodriguez

Height: 6’1”
Weight: 231 lbs
Class: Senior
School: Texas Tech
Hands: 9 ¼”
Arm length: 30 ⅞”
40-yard-dash: 4.57s
10-yard-split: 1.60
Vertical Jump: 38 ½”
Broad Jump: 10’1”
3-Cone Drill: 6.90s
Short-Shuttle: 4.19s
STATS

A former three star prospect out of Wichita Falls Rider High School in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he was the 58th recruit from his state and the 26th athlete during the 2021 recruiting cycle.

Rodriguez was a quarterback in high school and made the transition to linebacker as a walk-on at Texas Tech, after initially playing one season at Virginia. He surrendered his scholarship at Virginia to transition to linebacker – a bet that paid off.

Rodriguez was a tackling machine at Texas Tech. He recorded an astounding 70 STOPs in 2025, which ranked second in the FBS. He missed 13.9% of his 2025 tackles and finished his career with a 15.1% missed tackle rate, while never committing a penalty in college.

Rodriguez had 39 pressures through his four years, 22 of which came in 2024. He had some of the best defense, run defense, and coverage grades of any linebacker in college football (Pro Football Focus).

He was a 2025 All-American that earned the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Lombardi Award, the Butkus Award, and he was the Bronko Nagurski Trophy recipient.

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Strengths

Good athlete with excellent short-area quickness and change of direction
Very good range to play sideline-to-sideline
Fluid mover with an athletic build that possess sufficient play strength
High IQ – instincts – player
Elite communicator and field general
Quickly diagnoses with very good angles of attack
Perceives and attacks – anticipation + explosiveness = excellent play strength
Good take-on ability
Good leverage + positioning to avoid clean contact from COMBO/climb
Scrapes square to target and attacks with excellent timing/discernment
Never stagnant – always active
Physical tackler with good pop on contact
Fluid transitions in coverage – upside here!
Sufficient man coverage defender
Quick trigger downhill on routes underneath in zone coverage
Led the FBS with seven forced fumbles in 2025
Two time team captain – leader
Elite competitive toughness

Weaknesses

Underwhelming size
21st percentile weight and 11th percentile arm length
Length issue is evident – limited tackle radius
Had some bad coverage busts in 2025
Lacks overwhelming play strength
Not a ton of special teams experience
Right foot injuries in his past (Lisfranc sprain/bone bruise in right foot, 2023)

Summary

Jacob Rodriguez is a high-IQ, football-obsessed linebacker with strong overall athleticism and a natural instinct for tracking the ball carrier—traits that stood out among the best in college football during the 2025 season.

He’s slippery for offensive linemen to square up at the second level and shows a refined feel for timing and angles when attacking ball carriers. He’s an excellent run defender in the box, and outside the numbers.

Rodriguez hauled in four interceptions in 2025 and proved to be a difference-maker in coverage, despite some occasional busts. His play strength isn’t elite but is more than sufficient, and while his tackling radius is not ideal, he profiles as a long-term three-down NFL starter. He is going to be a fan-favorite for the team that selects him.

GRADE: 6.64

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This article first appeared on New York Giants on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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