Texas Tech is doing everything it can to make linebacker Jacob Rodriguez a Heisman name, but on Saturday in Morgantown, that plan might’ve hit its first real snag. Already leading West Virginia 28-0 in the second quarter, Tech dialed up a goal-line wrinkle with Rodriguez in the shotgun, looking to add to his campaign with a little offensive flair. Instead, Rodriguez rolled out and threw an interception in the end zone on a trick play that didn’t fool anyone. It didn’t cost them the game, actually, it really didn’t even matter, as the Red Raiders rolled 49-0, but it might’ve cost him a piece of the narrative.
Rodriguez has been one of the most dynamic defensive players in the Big 12 this season, and Texas Tech has leaned all the way into it. McGuire and his staff have used him everywhere: lining him up in the wildcat, showcasing his athleticism on offense, and leaning into the idea of a true two-way Heisman contender. The campaign has been loud, fun, and effective, right up until that throw.
That’s the kind of play you can only run if you’re already up big, and Tech was. But there’s a fine line between creative and gimmicky, and it definitely felt like they crossed it. Rodriguez, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound junior from Wichita Falls, has earned his recognition the right way. He’s been a menace at linebacker, a leader on the field, and one of the best pound-for-pound athletes in the Big 12. He didn’t need that throw to validate anything.
Still, it’s clear the staff is going to keep pushing him. His production on defense speaks for itself, and the extra offensive touches are just icing when they work. The problem is when they don’t, it’s the kind of thing that Heisman voters remember. For a defensive player to even sniff New York, the margin for error is almost nonexistent. One slip-up, especially one that looks more like a gimmick than a football play, can be the kind of thing that sticks in people’s minds.
Texas Tech got the win, and a dominant one at that. But if they’re serious about keeping Rodriguez in the national conversation, it might be time to cool it on the gadget plays and let the man do what he does best, wreck opposing offenses and keep stacking wins.
