For the Texas Tech football program, a rare season of double-digit wins and a multi-week run among the top 10 in the national rankings have centered largely around fielding one of the nation’s best defenses.
Now Red Raiders edge defender David Bailey and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez are two of four finalists for the Lombardi Award, which honors college football’s top linemen and linebackers.
Bailey leads the FBS in sacks with 12 1/2, and Jacob Rodriguez has been a turnover-causing machine with an FBS-best 7 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 4 interceptions. He also has 100 tackles, including 9 1/2 tackles for loss, plus 6 pass breakups.
The other finalists are Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell and Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor. Howell has 11 1/2 sacks and, having played in one less game than Bailey, leads the FBS in sacks per game.
Tech is 10-1 this season and leads the Big 12 with a 7-1 conference record. The Red Raiders are No. 7 in US LBM Coaches Poll and tied for No. 6 in The Associated Press Top 25. Last week, they were No. 6 in the College Football Playoff Ranking.
Tech leads the FBS in rushing defense, allowing an average of 71.8 yards per game, ranks eighth in total defense (266.1 ypg) and 35th in pass defense (194.3 ypg). The Red Raiders are third in scoring defense with an average yield of 12.27 points per game.
Rodriguez has been so dominant that Tech coach Joey McGuire has pushed him for Heisman Trophy consideration, and college football analyst Robert Griffin III said last week that Rodriguez “should be the Heisman Front Runner on every list this week.”
In Tech’s 48-9 victory Saturday over Central Florida, Tech tried to draw more attention to Rodriguez, inserting the former Wichita Falls Rider quarterback on offense to score a touchdown running out of the wildcat formation.
Rodriguez is a fifth-year senior who’s in his fourth season with the Red Raiders after playing his freshman year at Virginia.
Bailey is a senior from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei who played three years at Stanford before transferring to Texas Tech in January. He’s also been credited with 34 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss.
The Rotary Club of Houston established the Lombardi Award in 1970, shortly after the death of its namesake, NFL coach Vince Lombardi. This year’s winner will be announced and the award presented on Dec. 10 in Houston.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football’s David Bailey, Jacob Rodriguez finalists for Lombardi Award
Reporting by Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
