Texas Tech football: Five newcomers that could have a big impact this fall

Jacob Rodriguez is switching sides of the ball in a most unusual way

If you look at the list of Texas Tech transfers, you’ll notice that the program has added a QB to the mix.  However, that is a bit misleading because Virginia transfer Jacob Rodriguez is not coming home to Texas to throw passes.  Rather, he’s now going to try to get after the passer as a linebacker.  And the early reviews on his transition have been glowing.

Rodriguez played QB and linebacker at Wichita Falls’ Rider High School where he passed for over 7,000 yards, ran for over 3,000, and accounted for 100 TDs.  His desire was to play QB a the college level so he picked Virginia, where he was recruited as a QB instead of Texas Tech, which wanted him to come to Lubbock as a defensive player.

But at Virginia, he was quickly turned into an offensive jack of all trades where he was utilized some as a receiver and some as a runner and it became apparent that his future was not at QB.  Then, when his head coach, Bronco Mendenhall, resigned, Rodriguez decided to explore his options in the portal.

Now, he’s back in his native state and he’s found a new home on the defensive side of the ball.  And after adding around 30 pounds to his frame, he might just be ready to play a meaningful role for the Red Raiders in 2022.

"“I love high-school quarterbacks on defense,” linebackers coach Josh Bookbinder told Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journalin April. “I’d take a roomful of high-school quarterbacks if they have the mentality to play defense, which he does. He backed up every position on offense at UVa last year other than (offensive) line, so (he’s) a cerebral guy. Never played defense, but he’s bought in and he’s got a defensive mindset. He ran the ball hard as a quarterback in high school, so excited about him.”"

Sure, Rodriguez is raw as a linebacker.  But don’t be surprised to see him earn some playing time at that position this fall.  That’s because Tech is looking to replace a trio of productive LBs from last year in Colin Schooler, Riko Jeffers, and Jacob Morgenstern, a group that accounted for 184 tackles a season ago.

There is an opportunity for a player like Rodriguez to make an immediate impact at linebacker and given his pedigree as a QB, he could be smart enough to figure out his new position quickly.  If that happens, look for him to take to the defensive side of the ball and begin making plays early in his Red Raider career.