Texas Tech Sends Two Superstars Into Big 12 Athlete Race

Texas Tech athletics didn’t need to search very hard for its Big 12 Athlete of the Year nominees.

The Red Raiders selected linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and softball ace NiJaree Canady after two seasons that didn’t merely produce impressive statistics. They helped change what Texas Tech fans believe their programs can accomplish.

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Rodriguez became the heartbeat of a football team that captured the first Big 12 championship in school history and earned Texas Tech’s first College Football Playoff appearance.

He finished with 128 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four interceptions, six pass breakups, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

That’s not a stat line. That’s a weekly crime scene.

Rodriguez collected nearly every major honor available to an elite defensive player.

He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, earned first-team All-Big 12 recognition and won the Lombardi Trophy.

He also became only the third player to capture the Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Butkus Award in the same season.

His impact extended beyond Saturdays. Rodriguez received the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award before the Miami Dolphins selected him in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Canady was just as dominant inside the circle.

The Texas Tech softball star posted a 29-7 record with a 1.87 ERA across 190.2 innings. Opposing hitters managed only a .169 batting average against her, while she struck out 253 batters and issued 53 walks.

Whenever Texas Tech needed to stop an opponent’s momentum, Canady usually ended the conversation herself.

She earned consensus All-America recognition and shared Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honors.

Canady also landed on the All-Big 12 first team, the conference’s defensive team, the Big 12 Tournament team and the Women’s College World Series All-Tournament team.

Her reach extended well beyond college softball when Time included her among its 100 most influential athletes of the year.

Every Big 12 school may submit one male and one female candidate who competed during the 2025-26 academic year. Nominees must remain in good academic standing and participate in a conference-sponsored sport.

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The winners will be revealed Thursday.

Regardless of the final vote, Texas Tech’s message is already clear: Rodriguez and Canady didn’t just represent the Red Raiders. They defined one of the most successful athletic years Lubbock has ever witnessed.