Jacob Rodriguez, a linebacker from Texas Tech, was drafted by the Miami Dolphins as the 43rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He led FBS with seven forced fumbles and won multiple awards for his defensive performance last season.
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The Dolphins' first selection on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft is a linebacker that was as productive as any defensive player in college football last season.
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez was selected by Miami with the 43rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday.
Leading all of FBS with seven forced fumbles, Rodriguez collected a team-best 128 tackles along with 11 tackles for loss, four interceptions and six pass breakups en route to winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award as the nation's top defender as well as the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker.
Rodriguez also finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.
More NFL Draft: How Jacob Rodriguez fits with Miami Dolphins
Here are a couple additional items about Rodriguez that you may not have known.
Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez shares a kiss with his wife, Emma, before the Big 12 Championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
While the second-round draft pick is expected to lead the middle of the defense, his wife will be serving her country while flying through the skies.
Jacob Rodriguez is a linebacker from Texas Tech who won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, and Butkus Award for his outstanding defensive performance.
Jacob Rodriguez was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 43rd overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In college, Jacob Rodriguez recorded 128 tackles and led FBS with seven forced fumbles.
Jacob Rodriguez finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting, highlighting his exceptional performance during the season.
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Emma Rodriguez is a 15A Aviation Officer in the United States Army, as she flies the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. She attended the United States Miltary Academy at West Point, graduating in 2023. She is on active duty and expected to deploy in a few months, according to an interview with Fox News.
The couple entered a relationship during their high school days in northern Texas as she attended Wichita Falls High School while he went to Rider High School. They got married in July 2023.
Just prior to the Draft, Jacob Rodriguez joined his wife for a visit to a local flight simulator. He detailed his experience in an interview with People.com.
"I got to see how she flies and see what she gets to do on a daily basis... It's very stressful," he said. "To see her in her element, doing what she does, doing what she loves to do, it shows me a deeper appreciation for everything."
Emma Rodriguez becomes emotional as her husband, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, is honored on senior day before a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
The place where Rodriguez will call home in the NFL was also the site of his final collegiate game.
Texas Tech were defeated by the Oregon Ducks 23-0 in the Orange Bowl during the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. In that game, Rodriguez racked up 11 total tackles.
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
Jacob Rodriguez #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders kisses his wife Emma Rodriguez before the game against the BYU Cougars at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 08, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins' Jacob Rodriguez's wife is a Black Hawk pilot