Texas Tech University Athletics
Rodriguez named semifinalist for Butkus Award
November 04, 2025 | Football
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech senior linebacker Jacob Rodriguez added another national honor Tuesday, being named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award by the Butkus Foundation. Earlier in the day, Rodriguez was also recognized as a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, joining an elite group of the nation's top defensive players.
Head coach Joey McGuire often calls Rodriguez the "quarterback of the defense" — a fitting title for the former high school quarterback who began his career on offense at Virginia. That mentality has carried over to the defensive side of the ball, where Rodriguez has developed into one of the country's premier linebackers. According to Pro Football Focus, he enters this week as the highest-graded inside linebacker (93.8 overall) among players with at least 200 snaps, a mark that ranks second nationally among all positions behind only Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. (94.1).
Rodriguez leads all players nationally with a 96.8 grade in rush defense and ranks second among linebackers with a 92.3 grade in coverage, both per Pro Football Focus.
The honors come on the heels of another standout performance, as Rodriguez was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday. In Texas Tech's 43-20 win at Kansas State, he forced two key fumbles that led to Red Raider touchdowns, sparking a defense that generated five total takeaways — the program's most since the 2022 Texas Bowl win over Ole Miss.
Rodriguez currently leads the FBS with seven forced fumbles this season, five of which have come in the past three games. He returned one of those for a 69-yard touchdown against Oklahoma State and had another at Utah, adding an interception late in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory.
Over his career, Rodriguez ranks second nationally with 13 forced fumbles, trailing only Buffalo's Red Murdock (17), who recently broke the NCAA FBS record.
About the Butkus Award
Finalists for the Butkus Award will be announced Nov. 25, and the winner will be revealed by Dec. 10. The 2025 recipient will be honored during a ceremony at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in early 2026.
The 51-member selection committee — comprised of coaches, scouts, and journalists — evaluates candidates based on the qualities that defined Dick Butkus' career: toughness, leadership, competitiveness, football character, and traditional linebacking skills.
The Butkus Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA).
2025 Butkus Award Semifinalists
C.J. Allen, Georgia
Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
Aiden Fisher, Indiana
Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Anthony Hill, Texas
Deontae Lawson, Alabama
Red Murdock, Buffalo
Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Kam Robinson, Virginia
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Jimmy Rolder, Michigan
Sonny Styles, Ohio State
– TECH –
Head coach Joey McGuire often calls Rodriguez the "quarterback of the defense" — a fitting title for the former high school quarterback who began his career on offense at Virginia. That mentality has carried over to the defensive side of the ball, where Rodriguez has developed into one of the country's premier linebackers. According to Pro Football Focus, he enters this week as the highest-graded inside linebacker (93.8 overall) among players with at least 200 snaps, a mark that ranks second nationally among all positions behind only Miami's Rueben Bain Jr. (94.1).
Rodriguez leads all players nationally with a 96.8 grade in rush defense and ranks second among linebackers with a 92.3 grade in coverage, both per Pro Football Focus.
The honors come on the heels of another standout performance, as Rodriguez was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday. In Texas Tech's 43-20 win at Kansas State, he forced two key fumbles that led to Red Raider touchdowns, sparking a defense that generated five total takeaways — the program's most since the 2022 Texas Bowl win over Ole Miss.
Rodriguez currently leads the FBS with seven forced fumbles this season, five of which have come in the past three games. He returned one of those for a 69-yard touchdown against Oklahoma State and had another at Utah, adding an interception late in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory.
Over his career, Rodriguez ranks second nationally with 13 forced fumbles, trailing only Buffalo's Red Murdock (17), who recently broke the NCAA FBS record.
About the Butkus Award
Finalists for the Butkus Award will be announced Nov. 25, and the winner will be revealed by Dec. 10. The 2025 recipient will be honored during a ceremony at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in early 2026.
The 51-member selection committee — comprised of coaches, scouts, and journalists — evaluates candidates based on the qualities that defined Dick Butkus' career: toughness, leadership, competitiveness, football character, and traditional linebacking skills.
The Butkus Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA).
2025 Butkus Award Semifinalists
C.J. Allen, Georgia
Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
Aiden Fisher, Indiana
Jake Golday, Cincinnati
Anthony Hill, Texas
Deontae Lawson, Alabama
Red Murdock, Buffalo
Arvell Reese, Ohio State
Kam Robinson, Virginia
Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Jimmy Rolder, Michigan
Sonny Styles, Ohio State
– TECH –
Players Mentioned
LB
/ FootballWhat's Next! With Joey McGuire: Episode 25
Wednesday, November 05
Kenny Perry Media Availability
Tuesday, November 04
J'Koby Williams Media Availability
Tuesday, November 04
Brice Pollock Media Availability
Tuesday, November 04