Up to date Dec. 5, 2025, 6:28 p.m. CT
School soccer awards season is underway and Texas Tech soccer star Jacob Rodriguez has his first nationwide honor.
Rodriguez on Friday, Dec. 5, was named the winner of the Butkus Award, which bestows one such honor apiece to the nation’s high linebacker in highschool, faculty and professional soccer. The fifth-year senior from Wichita Falls Rider grew to become Texas Tech’s first winner of the Butkus Award, which originated in 1985.
The announcement got here someday after Rodriguez was named defensive participant of the 12 months on the all-Huge 12 crew chosen by the convention’s head coaches and someday earlier than Tech performs Brigham Younger within the Huge 12 championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Matt Butkus, son of Corridor of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, the award’s namesake, offered the trophy Friday in a shock announcement in entrance of the Texas Tech crew. Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware additionally took half within the presentation. Ware received the primary Butkus Award for NFL linebackers in 2008 and was a winner once more in 2011.
“We couldn’t be prouder that Jacob Rodriguez is that this 12 months’s winner of the Butkus Award,” coach Joey McGuire stated in Texas Tech’s announcement. “Jacob’s efficiency this season has positioned him in a choose class as one of many high gamers in faculty soccer, and our complete program couldn’t be extra ecstatic that he’s being acknowledged with such a prestigious award. Jacob has been an incredible chief for this crew, and we stay up for becoming a member of together with his household and buddies to have fun his accomplishments on the Butkus Award banquet in January.”
Rodriguez this season has been credited with 104 tackles, together with 10 tackles for loss and a sack. The side for which he is gotten probably the most consideration, nonetheless, is likely to be his skill to trigger turnovers. Rodriguez leads the FBS with 7 pressured fumbles, one wanting the Huge 12 report, and has 4 interceptions and a couple of fumble recoveries. He additionally has 6 go breakups.
Tech coach Joey McGuire has spent a number of weeks making an attempt to drum up consideration for Rodriguez as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Within the final two regular-season video games, he inserted Rodriguez as a wildcat-formation quarterback on offense, and Rodriguez scored two brief speeding touchdowns on direct snaps in opposition to Central Florida and West Virginia.
Rodriguez is a finalist for the Lombardi Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Lott IMPACT Trophy, the Bednarik Award and the Walter Camp nationwide participant of the 12 months.
This story was up to date so as to add remark and extra particulars.
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