There’s Nothing Wrong With Picking A Ballhawk
April 19th, 2026
All-American Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez.
Some 15 years ago, Joe became enamoured with a largely unknown linebacker who played for a team that was desperately grasping to return to being one of the powerhouse, blue chip programs in the nation it had been for decades.
It’s really sad to see how far Nebraska has slipped in football prominence. For decades, there were a few handful of sure things in life: Death, taxes, the sun rises in the east, sets in the west and Nebraska would win at least 10 games a year.
That began to unravel when Tom Osborne retired as Nebraska’s coach. Currently, a good season for the Cornhuskers is when they can get one win a season over a team with a winning record. One!
For a couple of years under maniac Bo Pelini, Nebraska appeared to regain its swagger. It helped to have a monster on the defensive line like Ndamukong Suh.
And some unheard of linebacker out of Miami named Lavonte David.
The thing that jumped out to Joe about David at the time watching Nebraska games was that he was always near the ball. It was an odd play when Nebraska was on defense that you didn’t see No. 4 (David’s number at Nebraska) near the ball.
Or, of course, tackling the ballcarrier.
Joe learned at the time watching David that if a defender almost always shows up near the ball (or recording a tackle), it’s a safe bet this guy can ball.
That’s the same mentality that Joe’s good friend, NFL humorist/columnist Mike Tanier uses when describing Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
In his breakdown on inside linebackers, Tanier has Rodriguez as his No. 2 off-ball linebacker.
Rodriguez led the Big XII in solo tackles in 2024 and 2025. He forced seven fumbles last year. He finished fifth in the Heisman voting and won several of the major defensive trophies.
Rodriguez is not huge, nor is he an athletic marvel. He can get rocked by blockers, and he will miss a few tackles. But, by golly, Rodriguez ends up in the frame at the end of every single play from scrimmage!
Rodriguez diagnoses plays as if he were in the offensive huddle. He sifts and disengages from blocks well. He takes great angles when working his way across the field. Rodriguez can be playing zone coverage on the boundary side and end up tackling the receiver on a screen pass to the field side for a minimal gain. When he’s the second defender on the scene, he’s looking to rip the football away. If there’s a loose football on the ground, he teleports into frame to scoop it up.
When evaluating off-ball linebackers, it’s best not to overthink things. A defender who always finds his way to the football at a major college program is likely to also find his way to the football in the NFL. Rodriguez has the potential to be a Zaire Franklin-type.
That’s exactly it: There’s no need to overthink this. If a player is always near the ball, often making tackles, often forcing turnovers, often securing loose balls, it’s a pretty safe bet he can play.
Why so many have Rodriguez falling to the second round is mystifying to Joe. Guessing it has to do with measurables.
Measurables cannot measure the heart.
But you know what, why can’t the Bucs take advantage of other teams’ mistakes and jump on Rodriguez if the Bucs trade down Thursday night, maybe even trading down early in the second round?
Jacob Rodriguez might be the BEST linebacker in this entire draft class 👀🔥
Cowboys Nation… if there is ANY way to go get him, you make that move IMMEDIATELY‼️
This dude brings instincts, toughness, and straight-up playmaking ability to the field. He’s everywhere. Sideline to… pic.twitter.com/AszVibnTHw
— Law Nation Sports (@LawsNation) March 19, 2026
