Jacob Rodriguez walked into the Hilton Americas on Wednesday night as one of college football’s most decorated defenders. He walked out having made Texas Tech history.
Rodriguez was announced as the 2025 Lombardi Award winner, becoming the first Red Raider ever to claim the honor recognizing the nation’s top lineman or linebacker.
He accepted the trophy with the calm confidence that’s defined his rise.
“This is an amazing honor. Everything that the Lombardi Award stands for is something very important to me,” Rodriguez said after receiving the award.
He earned the distinction over a finalist group that included teammate David Bailey, Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor. His body of work left little debate.
Rodriguez also captured the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Butkus Award earlier this week, sweeping college football’s premier defensive honors.
He was voted Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He remains a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which will be announced tomorrow.
Winner moments with @Jacob_R_10 pic.twitter.com/aLQDb8SbmP
— Lombardi Award (@lombardi_award) December 11, 2025
Rodriguez’s numbers have fueled his rise into elite company: 117 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. He leads all FBS defenders in forced fumbles.
He’s the only FBS player since 2005 to post at least five forced fumbles, four interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in the same season.
Pro Football Focus ranks him as the top defensive player in the nation with a 93.4 grade.
Rodriguez even contributed snaps as a Wildcat quarterback, becoming the only player nationally with both an offensive and defensive touchdown this season.
For Texas Tech, it’s a breakthrough moment. For Rodriguez, it’s a season still adding chapters.
