Texas Tech University Athletics
Jason Witten Award tabs Rodriguez as finalist
December 16, 2025 | Football
Jacob Rodriguez became the second Red Raider in history to be named a Jason Witten Award finalist Tuesday
LUBBOCK, Texas – Jacob Rodriguez has the potential to add another trophy to his growing list of accolades for this season as the Texas Tech senior linebacker was named a finalist Tuesday for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
Rodriguez was selected as one of three finalists for the award, which, now in its ninth year, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player's leadership, both on and off the field. Rodriguez was joined as a finalist by Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher and Notre Dame offensive lineman Aamil Wagner.
Now a two-time captain for the Red Raiders, Rodriguez has been praised for his leadership beginning last January for helping build a strong team culture alongside fellow captains in quarterback Behren Morton and linebacker Bryce Ramirez. On multiple occasions, Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire has called it the "healthiest locker room" he's experienced in now 31 years of coaching.
The team chemistry the Red Raiders formed in the offseason has translated to the field, positioning Texas Tech for an already historic season. The Red Raiders are coming off a 34-7 victory over BYU just over a week ago in the Edward Jones Big 12 Championship that improved Texas Tech to 12-1 on the season. The victory marked Texas Tech's first Big 12 title in its history and snapped the single-season school record for wins.
Rodriguez has put together a historic season on his own as already the winner of the Bednark Award (nation's top defensive player), the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker), the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation's top defensive player), the Lombardi Award (nation's top lineman or linebacker) and the Pony Express Award (nation's top duo with Bailey) in the past two weeks alone. He joins former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o as the only players in history to win the Butkus, Nagurski, Lombardi and Bednarik Awards all in the same season.
Rodriguez, who also finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting, has been among the most-disruptive players in recent college football history this season as he enters the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl as the FBS leader with seven forced fumbles and ranks among the top-15 players nationally with 117 tackles. He is the first FBS player since 2005 to record at least five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four interceptions all in the same season.Â
Texas Tech's rise to its first Big 12 title and College Football Playoff appearance has been built around a defense led by Rodriguez that has forced an FBS-leading 31 takeaways this season. Rodriguez was responsible for nine takeaways himself — all in Big 12 play – thanks to his ability to punch the ball out and also read the quarterback in coverage. The Red Raiders also rank third in the FBS for scoring, allowing only 10.9 points per game after holding five of their last six opponents to at least single digits.
Off the field, Rodriguez is a pillar in the Lubbock community, regularly visiting local school districts and children's hospitals as a way to give back. His story with his wife Emma – an active duty U.S. Army helicopter pilot – has captivated audiences nationwide with multiple appearances on FOX's Big Noon Kickoff and ESPN's College Gameday.
Leadership is a term synonymous with Jason Witten, who, in addition to becoming one of the best tight ends in the history of the sport and the Dallas Cowboys' all-time leading receiver, served as one of football's most prominent role models during his 17-year pro career. In addition to winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 2012, Witten has also received the Bart Starr Award, Pro Football Weekly's Humanitarian of the Year Award, Home Depot NFL Neighborhood MVP and the Bob Lilly Award, among many others. All of those honors have recognized his work in the community, achievements on the field and dedication to his teammates and family.
Rodriguez is the second Red Raider to be named a finalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award since its inception in 2017, joining Tony Bradford Jr., who was recognized as a senior in 2023. The ninth winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award will be announced at an award ceremony in Frisco, Texas, on April 16.
