MIAMI GARDENS — Zach Thomas meant what he said when he called Jacob Rodriguez the best defensive player in Texas Tech history. Moments after the Miami Dolphins selected Rodriguez in the second round of the NFL Draft, Thomas went a step further.
“It’s not even close,” Thomas said in a text to The Palm Beach Post.
It’s a big statement, of course, considering that Thomas is a Tech alumnus who had a Pro Football Hall of Fame career for the Dolphins after being drafted in the fifth round in 1996.
The Dolphins continued the tradition with Red Raider linebackers with Jordyn Brooks, who now will be lining up next to Rodriguez in the fall. At a position Thomas once patrolled.
Jacob Rodriguez stands with Joey and Debbie McGuire during Texas Tech's senior day ceremony before a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.Jacob Rodriguez lifts the trophy after Texas Tech defeated BYU in the Big 12 Conference championship game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez shares a kiss with his wife Emma prior to the Big 12 Conference championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez celebrates an interception against UCF during a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.Dec 6, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) gets into position during the game between the Red Raiders and the Cougars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesTexas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez makes the tackle against BYU during the Big 12 Conference championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez gets up after making a tackle against BYU during the Big 12 Conference championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.Texas Tech players Jacob Rodriguez and Behren Morton hype each other up during a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (LB21) runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (LB21) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesFeb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (LB21) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesJacob Rodriguez walks the field before the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Jones AT&T Stadium.1 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickJacob Rodriguez stands with Joey and Debbie McGuire during Texas Tech's senior day ceremony before a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.1 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickJacob Rodriguez stands with Joey and Debbie McGuire during Texas Tech's senior day ceremony before a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.2 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickJacob Rodriguez lifts the trophy after Texas Tech defeated BYU in the Big 12 Conference championship game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.3 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickTexas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez shares a kiss with his wife Emma prior to the Big 12 Conference championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.4 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickTexas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez celebrates an interception against UCF during a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.5 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickDec 6, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) gets into position during the game between the Red Raiders and the Cougars at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images6 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickTexas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez makes the tackle against BYU during the Big 12 Conference championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.7 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickTexas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez gets up after making a tackle against BYU during the Big 12 Conference championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.8 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickTexas Tech players Jacob Rodriguez and Behren Morton hype each other up during a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.9 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (LB21) runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images10 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (LB21) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images11 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickFeb 25, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (LB21) speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images12 / 12Meet linebacker Jacob Rodriguez Dolphins' second-round NFL draft pickJacob Rodriguez walks the field before the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Jones AT&T Stadium.Rodriguez said Thomas has been a valuable source after starting his college career as a walk-on quarterback.
“He’s been a mentor to me and let me reach out to him for any questions,” Rodriguez said. “It's a really cool experience to be in this position to have, you know, guys who were in your same spot.”
Long before Thomas knew Rodriguez would be a Dolphin, he visited a Texas Tech Orange Bowl practice in Boca Raton, where he was lavish in his praise.
“He's another level, the best defender we've ever had at Texas Tech,” Thomas said of Rodriguez, according to The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. “And so I'm so happy for him, because I was just talking about humility, and that guy has it. He's got talent, too.
"He's going to be great on the next level, and I'm just happy to follow him going forth."
“He's just kind of reminded me of kind of what he went through and … how he had to believe in himself.”
Dolphins assistant general manager Kyle Smith offered an assessment of Rodriguez’s skills that the team might have said when they drafted Thomas.
“You feel it in his tape,” Smith said. “It looks like he's not running sometimes because he's already there. He's a step ahead. And that's going to take time at our level. The game's a different game, different speed. But I think in short order, you know, he's going to figure that out pretty quick.”
Smith also said “there’s not really a thing on tape” that Rodriguez hasn’t done, including when it comes to creating takeaways.
Thomas was enshrined in Canton in 2023 despite being drafted 154th overall. Rodriguez starts his NFL career as the 43rd overall pick.
“What a pick,” Thomas wrote. “Line him next to Jordyn and they will be so good. Going to be fun to watch.”
Thomas, in fact, said Rodriguez had him watching all of his alma mater’s games.
“I’m so fired up, man,” Thomas write. “What a great player he is. Humble, too. You will love him.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jacob Rodriguez continues Texas Tech LB tradition with Miami Dolphins