Former Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez continued to make an impression in his rookie season with the Miami Dolphins after an outing against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
LUBBOCK - Texas Tech had its rooting interests split on Sunday morning, as the Kansas City Chiefs traveled to Miami to face off with the Dolphins.
The Chiefs are of course led by dynamic quarterback Patrick Mahomes, while Miami is getting to witness to spectacle of linebacker Jacob Rodriguez in his rookie season.
Both of whom are members of the Red Raider royal class following sensational stints in Lubbock.
As fate would have it, the pair of alums could not share the field without being linked together in some way.
That came after Rodriguez gathered up a tipped pass from Mahomes in the second quarter of the matchup to record his first interception of his professional career.
It was fitting that Rodriguez's first major moment in the NFL came with another Red Raider creating the opportunity.
Although Mahomes probably was not the happiest at the time to have a turnover added on to his stats.
Despite landing a mighty punch on what Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire called "the greatest quarterback in the world", Mahomes won the battle between the two in a 24-10 victory for the Chiefs.
Outside of this proud moment for Texas Tech on the highest stage of the sport, Rodriguez turned in a solid performance for the Dolphins, as he continues to vie for Rookie of the Year honors.
Rodriguez was responsible for six total tackles for Miami, with three of those resulting in a loss for Kansas City.
Alongside the aforementioned pick of Mahomes, it was yet another successful day at work for the first-year linebacker.
Those feats were not just impressive, they were historic. Rodriguez was the first rookie since Lavonte David back in 2012 to post at least five tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception in a single outing.
While the interception might have been the official "Welcome to the NFL" moment for Rodriguez in the eyes of many around the league, he has been making statements since week one.
As of Sunday's loss to the Chiefs, Rodriguez ranks first for Miami in total tackles with 28 and is tied for the lead in tackles for loss at three.
For those that saw Rodriguez set foot on the field in Lubbock, especially in last year's remarkable Heisman-contending campaign, this immediate production with the Dolphins comes as no surprise.
With several weeks left to play this season, Rodriguez is set to not only become one of the strongest rookies in the NFL this season, but could realistically finish as one of the top defensive threats altogether.
