Texas Tech's Rodriguez Named Finalist for Walter Camp Player of the Year

LUBBOCK, TX – Texas Tech senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez became the only defensive player in the nation named a finalist Wednesday for the Walter Camp National Player of the Year award.

Rodriguez joins quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt and Julian Sayin of Ohio State, as well as Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, on the five-player finalist list. The award, selected by 136 FBS head coaches and national sports communicators, will be announced Dec. 10 on ESPN’s College Football Live.

With his selection, Rodriguez enters rare company among defensive players considered for the Walter Camp Foundation’s top honor. Only four defensive players have won the award since 1967: Pittsburgh defensive end Hugh Green (1980), Michigan defensive back Charles Woodson (1997), Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o (2012) and Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter (2024).

Rodriguez’s season statistically parallels Te’o’s 2012 campaign, when the Notre Dame star finished with 113 tackles and nine takeaways while becoming the Heisman Trophy runner-up. Rodriguez enters Saturday’s Edward Jones Big 12 Championship with 104 tackles and 10.0 tackles for loss, but his most significant impact has come through takeaways. He leads the FBS with seven forced fumbles to go with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries, all coming in Big 12 play.

Dating back to 2005, Rodriguez is the only FBS player to record at least five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four interceptions in the same season. His play has powered a Texas Tech defense that ranks tied for second nationally with 27 takeaways and sits third in scoring defense at 11.3 points allowed per game. The Red Raiders also lead the nation in rushing defense (68.9 yards per game) and rank sixth in total defense (258.9 yards per game).