As the calendar was getting ready to turn to November, Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire observed that, among quarterbacks and other skill positions, no one seemed to be stepping forward as a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
Indiana fans might beg to differ on behalf of Fernando Mendoza, Alabama fans on behalf of Ty Simpson and Ohio State fans on behalf of Julian Sayin.
But McGuire says the time is right for a defensive player to get strong consideration, and he knows just the one: Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
“I don’t know, when you look at the Heisman race right now, who’s the no-brainer,” McGuire said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve looked at a defensive player as a possible guy. I look at the Heisman also as, what does that person mean to their team? We are a lot different when that guy is on the field.”
No. 13 Tech plays at Kansas State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas.
Rodriguez went into Saturday’s game third in the Big 12 in tackles with 72 and leading the conference in forced fumbles with 5. He also has 4 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and returned a fumble for a touchdown last week against Oklahoma State.
Pro Football Focus had him as the second highest-graded defensive player nationally at 92.7 and highest among inside linebackers.
Cole Wisniewski gets a bird’s eye view of Rodriguez, being deployed to the same side of the field. Rodriguez lines up at boundary inside linebacker, Wisniewski at boundary safety.
“Sometimes he’s taking tackles that I would love to make myself,” Wisniewski said, “but it’s super fun. I get to celebrate a lot playing behind him. He plays super fast, plays with great instincts, and I encourage that.”
Asked jokingly if Rodriguez was hurting his tackles totals, Wisniewski said, “I really could care less. He’s making some phenomenal plays. I think also, playing behind him and getting to see things he does really well — like attacking the football — he encourages me to do it as well. He attacks the ball with tenacity to create turnovers. It’s helped me elevate my game. I’m getting front-row seats to some of the best tackling in the country.”
Rodriguez’s wife, Emma, is a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, stationed at Fort Riley. That’s only 17 miles from Bill Snyder Family Stadium, where the Red Raiders play Saturday.
“It’ll be a home game for her,” Rodriguez said. “Yeah, she’s right down the road.”
