BOCA RATON, Fla. — Zach Thomas met Jacob Rodriguez a couple of years ago, before the Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker really knew who Rodriguez was.
“You know what? I know who he is now,” Thomas said as he watched a New Year’s Eve Texas Tech football practice.
Rodriguez has put together the most acclaimed season ever by a Texas Tech linebacker, winning the Butkus Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Lombardi Award and the Bednarik Award. He also, like Thomas, was a unanimous choice on all five all-America teams recognized by the NCAA.
You think Thomas watched Texas Tech games before?
“He’s had me watch every game,” Thomas said, “because I love watching great players. His awards speak for themselves, because he’s that type of player. He’s another level, the best defender we’ve ever had at Texas Tech, and so I’m so happy for him, because I was just talking about humility, and that guy has it. He’s got talent, too.
“He’s going to be great on the next level, and I’m just happy to follow him going forth.”
Thomas made the comments as he watched the Red Raiders getting in their last work before their New Year’s Day Orange Bowl matchup with Oregon, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal. The Red Raiders were working out at Florida Atlantic, where former Tech offensive coordinator Zach Kittley is head coach, and not far from Thomas’s home in Hillsboro Beach, Florida.
Thomas was a two-time all-American for the Red Raiders, during his junior and senior seasons of 1994 and 1995, before going on to a 13-year NFL career in which he was named first-team All-Pro five times and second-team All-Pro twice.
Thomas said there’s no need to compare him to Rodriguez.
“He’s better. He’s better,” Thomas said. “The reason I say that is … my year, I thought the Butkus was hard to get. I got third. Guess who got second: Ray Lewis. [Illinois’ Kevin Hardy won the 1995 award for the nation’s top linebacker.] So, it’s hard.”
In a voice of astonishment, Thomas added, “He got the Nagurski. He got the Butkus. He got all these awards, and I’m so proud of him. He deserves it, and he earned it. So, they should never try to compare him to me. He’s going to be better.”
Rodriguez has been credited with 117 tackles this season, including 11 tackles for loss. He’s separated himself, however, by as ringleader of a defense with an FBS-high 31 turnovers gained. Rodriguez has 7 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries.
Like Thomas, however, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior from Wichita Falls Rider isn’t showing up high on any mock draft boards. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has Rodriguez listed ninth among off-ball linebackers for the 2026 NFL draft. Thomas knows what’s that like, having been a fifth-round draft choice by the Miami Dolphins, for whom he played his first 12 seasons.
Thomas says he thinks Rodriguez will go higher than he did, but it doesn’t matter.
“I hope he just lands in the right system — the right system, the right players around you, the right coach who believes in you,” Thomas said, “because it doesn’t matter where you get drafted. Your second contract’s the most important anyway.”
In Thomas’ perfect scenario, the Dolphins will take Rodriguez. They already have Jordyn Brooks, yet another former Texas Tech linebacker who leads the NFL in tackles this season with 174.
“If the guy’s hungry, which he is, and he’s humble,” Thomas said of Rodriguez, “he’s going to be fun to watch for a long time. Just hope my Dolphins can pick him up, put him right next to the other Red Raider, Jordyn Brooks, because hey, Jordyn had a great year as well.”
In Miami, though, it’ll be hard for any linebacker to achieve the stature of No. 54, whose unheralded arrival, rise to stardom and overachiever persona have made him a Dolphins icon. The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted Thomas with the class of 2023.
Since he’s entrenched as a longtime resident with no plans to leave, one might think it would be hard for him to appear in public. He was mini swarmed on Wednesday showing up at Tech practice.
“It’s great,” he said. “The people treat me here great, and I always see that as respect. When I played, it was a lot more (people) would come up, but I always see it as a sign of respect. If you’re not playing great, they’re not coming up, you know? They’re talking about you and stuff like that. So, for me, I always looked at it as a plus. And it helps my ego, you know?”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Zach Thomas weighs in on Texas Tech football star Jacob Rodriguez
Reporting by Don Williams, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
