Jun 1, 2026 12:00 PM
Former Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez already looks like a Dolphins steal after his award-loaded college career and early OTA buzz.
Texas Tech football fans already knew Jacob Rodriguez was a problem. Now, the Miami Dolphins are starting to find out.
The former Red Raiders linebacker didn’t just leave Lubbock with a nice resume.
He left with a trophy case that looked like it needed its own moving truck.
Rodriguez was a unanimous All-American after winning the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award, Butkus Award and Nagurski Trophy, giving Texas Tech one of the most decorated defensive players in recent college football history.
Still, somehow, Rodriguez lasted until the middle of the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
That’s starting to look ridiculous.
At 6-1 and 231 pounds, Rodriguez has already caught attention during Miami Dolphins OTAs, and teammate De’Von Achane didn’t exactly hide his surprise.
After seeing Rodriguez around the ball in practice, Achane said the rookie “gets the ball a lot” and admitted he was shocked Rodriguez fell as far as he did.
That won’t surprise anyone who watched him at Texas Tech.
Rodriguez topped 125 tackles in each of his final two seasons with the Red Raiders, showing the kind of production that doesn’t happen by accident.
He wasn’t just cleaning up plays after others did the dirty work, either.
He had a knack for changing possessions, setting an FBS record with seven forced fumbles in his final college season.
That’s not just linebacker production. That’s chaos production.
For Texas Tech, Rodriguez became the kind of defender who gave the entire unit an edge. He could diagnose, close, hit and rip the ball loose.
For Miami, that skill set could become even more valuable than expected, especially with Tyrel Dodson and Jordyn Brooks both headed toward free agency after the season.
The Dolphins don’t have to rush Rodriguez into everything right away, but the path is sitting right there.
If he keeps stacking strong practices, he could push for meaningful snaps as a rookie and eventually become Miami’s green-dot linebacker.
That would be a massive win for the Dolphins and another bragging point for Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders have been building momentum under Joey McGuire, and Rodriguez gives the program another NFL proof point.
He wasn’t a combine mirage or a draft-board projection. He was a baller in college, and early signs suggest he’s bringing the same violence, instincts and swagger to Sundays.
Miami may have found a steal. Texas Tech already knew it.
Join Our Roundtable Community For Free!
Share your takes, connect with our Roundtable writers, and talk sports with fellow fans. Download the free Roundtable App today and stay closer to the conversation.
Comments
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy