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Jacob Rodriguez was one of the best defensive players in the nation during his time at Texas Tech.
Before his first training camp practice, the linebacker is already being predicted to become a breakout star.
During a segment on Good Morning Football on Wednesday morning, analyst Manti Teʻo chose Rodriguez as his emerging star during Miami Dolphins training camp.
"There's clips of this man that made him a Heisman candidate," Te'o said. "He takes the ball away. That is the greatest stat for a defensive player.
"The reason they drafted him is because Jeff Hafley knows that, in his scheme, he needs a smart linebacker and somebody who's going to get the ball back to the offense. Jacob Rodriguez did that at Texas Tech, and he's going to do that in the NFL."
Miami selected Rodriguez in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 43rd overall pick. Despite having Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson in the linebacker room, Rodriguez could see plenty of playing time this season.
At Texas Tech, Rodriguez was a tackling machine who played with a relentless motor and outstanding instincts. In 14 games for the Red Raiders, he recorded 128 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four interceptions. Rodriguez was a consensus first-team All-American and won the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player), the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) and the Lombardi Award.
Hafley's defense is expected to utilize both 4-3 and 3-4 fronts. He values linebackers who can quickly diagnose plays and react to disrupt opposing offenses.
Rodriguez should help improve Miami's run defense, which ranked 27th in the NFL last season by allowing 132.4 rushing yards per game. He uses his downhill aggressiveness to consistently make plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Creating chaos and forcing turnovers is what Rodriguez does best. He forced an FBS-leading seven fumbles last season by using the "Peanut Punch," a technique designed to knock the football loose from ball carriers.
Miami selected 13 players in this year's draft. But Rodriguez could be the one who emerges from camp as one of their young building blocks.
