Joey McGuire explains why Texas Tech used Jacob Rodriguez in wildcat

Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire wants his linebacker, Jacob Rodriguez, to receive the same Heisman Trophy talk as quarterbacks.

It’s why the Red Raiders’ coach put his star linebacker under center to run the wildcat format in the first quarter of No. 8 Texas Tech’s (No. 6 in College Football Playoff rankings) win over UCF: in hopes of giving the Red Raiders their second touchdown score of the game.

‘Everybody is talking about quarterbacks for Heisman, so we put him at quarterback today and he scored a touchdown,’ Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire told Fox Sports’ Josh Sims after the game. ‘Right before that interception, I said, ‘Man get the ball back. Let’s get into the end zone so we can get (No.) 2 (Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton) out.’ He got the ball back for me.’

Rodriguez’s touchdown was set by 23- and 4-yard carries from J’Koby Williams to get down to the UCF 2-yard line. The 230-pound linebacker then lined up in the wildcat formation, took the direct snap under center and followed the block from his left guard to get into the end zone.

Here’s a look at Rodriguez’s touchdown score:

McGuire did have a point when he said quarterbacks are leading the conversation in the 2025 Heisman Trophy race, as the seven best odds at winning the Heisman Trophy on BetMGM are represented by a quarterback, with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza leading the way.

The quarterback room has also dominated the Heisman Trophy talk, historically speaking. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Colorado’s Travis Hunter, marked just the second time a defensive player won college football’s highest individual honor, with the other being Michigan’s Charles Woodson.

Rodriguez is in the midst of an impressive season on Texas Tech’s defense. In 11 games this season, Rodriguez has racked up 88 total tackles, seven forced fumbles, five broken-up passes, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a sack.

The 2025 Heisman Trophy finalists will be announced on Monday, Dec. 8 with the official award announcement taking place on Sunday, Dec. 13 in New York City.

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