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Jacob Rodriguez leads Texas Tech football coaches' all-Big 12 honorees
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- Jacob Rodriguez leads Texas Tech football coaches' all-Big 12 honorees
(This story has been updated to reflect Jacob Rodriguez 's announcement regarding his plans for 2025.)
Texas Tech football standout Jacob Rodriguez led the Big 12 in tackles during the regular season. Now he's getting acknowledgement.
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The junior inside linebacker made the first team on the coaches' all-Big 12 team released Thursday. Rodriguez has been credited with 117 tackles, including 9 1/2 tackles for loss with five sacks. He also has five quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Rodriguez was a two-time state champion youth wrestler in Minnesota before his family moved when he was 10 years old to Wichita Falls, where he went to high school at Rider. He has one year of eligibility left. Tech coach Joey McGuire said last week Rodriguez will have a decision to make whether to turn pro, but Rodriguez announced Thursday he will stay with the Red Raiders for his senior year.
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The Big 12's head coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players when selecting the all-conference team. Rodriguez was Texas Tech's only first-team honoree.
The second team included running back Tahj Brooks , wide receiver Josh Kelly , tight end Jalin Conyers and kicker Gino Garcia . Rodriguez received honorable mention for defensive player of the year, Brooks for offensive player of the year, Garcia for special-teams player of the year and Kelly for offensive newcomer of the year.
Tech's other honorable mentions were offensive lineman Caleb Rogers, safety C.J. Baskerville and return man Drae McCray.
Brooks and Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels shared the honor for Big 12 scholar athlete of the year.
Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez jogs during football practice, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at Sports Performance Center.
The Big 12 has three of the FBS's top eight rushers and five of the top 16. The first-team running back spots went to Central Florida's R.J. Harvey (232 carries, 1,577 yards, 22 touchdowns) and Arizona State's Cam Skattebo (247-1,398-17 rushing, 35-468-2 receiving). On the second team with Brooks (286-1,505-17) is Kansas State's D.J. Giddens (205-1,343-7).
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Brooks, Giddens, Harvey and Skattebo were four of the 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award.
Kelly transferred to Tech from Washington State and caught 89 passes for 1,023 yards and five touchdowns. Conyers transferred to Tech from Arizona State and caught 29 passes for 308 yards and five TDs. Garcia made 18 of 19 field goals.
McCray ranks seventh in the FBS with a kickoff-return average of 26.4 yards. Baskerville is third on the team with 68 tackles and has four interceptions, tied for third in the conference. Rogers has started 54 games in a row.
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This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Jacob Rodriguez leads Texas Tech football coaches' all-Big 12 honorees
