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Dolphins Draft Butkus Winner Rodriguez
25 Apr
Summary
- Rodriguez, a top linebacker, was drafted 43rd overall.
- He won multiple prestigious awards last season.
- Rodriguez's size mirrors Zach Thomas, a Dolphins legend.

Jacob Rodriguez, a highly decorated linebacker from Texas Tech, was drafted by the Dolphins as the 43rd overall pick in the second round. His impressive collegiate career culminated in him winning multiple major awards, including the Butkus, Bednarik, Nagurski, and Lombardi Awards.
Rodriguez also secured Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. His performance was so outstanding that he finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Comparisons to former Dolphins great Zach Thomas are notable, particularly regarding size. Rodriguez stands at 6'1" and weighs 233 pounds, while Thomas measured 5'11" and weighed 228 pounds, embarking on a Hall of Fame career with Miami.