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The Texas Tech Red Raiders have nominated two players to be the male and female 2025-26 Big 12 Athlete of the Year, the conference announced on Wednesday. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and softball star NiJaree Canady were chosen to represent the Red Raiders after their individual and team success during the 2025-26 school year.
Rodriguez helped lead the football program to its first Big 12 title in program history and first appearance in the College Football Playoff. He was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, won the Lombardi Trophy, and made the All-Big 12 first team. The All-American became the third player ever to win the Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and Butkus Award in one season.
He finished the season with 128 tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions, six pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He was drafted in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
Canady had another excellent season on the diamond, becoming a consensus All-American and the Co-Big 12 Pitcher of the Year. She made the First Team All-Big 12, All-Big 12 Defensive Team, All-Big 12 Tournament Team, and WCWS All-Tournament Team.
Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most influential athletes of the year. She finished the year with a 1.87 ERA and a 29-7 record in 190.2 innings. She held opponents to a .169 batting average and struck out 253, walking 53.
The winners will be announced on Thursday, with each Big 12 school submitting one male and one female athlete of any classification who competed for their institution during the 2025-26 school year. Candidates are required to be in good academic standing and must have participated in a league-sponsored sport.
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This article originally appeared on Red Raiders Wire: Texas Tech announces Big 12 Athlete of the Year nominees
