"In December 2021, Jacob Rodriguez felt lost. The young quarterback had just ended his freshman season at Virginia. Coach Bronco Mendenhall had unexpectedly stepped down. Rodriguez decided to transfer but had minimal tape as a college passer and few options. He had a creeping doubt, too, that maybe it was time to give up his quarterback dreams."
"Texas Tech was willing to take a chance on him under two conditions: It didn't have a scholarship available, and it didn't need a QB. If Rodriguez wanted to come home to Texas and play for new coach Joey McGuire, he would have to learn to play linebacker."
"He started sixth on the linebacker depth chart. He lifted weights twice a day to bulk up and watched film to figure out a position he had never played in high school. Back then, Rodriguez wasn't envisioning someday becoming the All-America performer he is today. "My biggest concern was not really trying to get a scholarship," he said. "I was just trying to make the team. I'm fighting to survive.""
Jacob Rodriguez left Virginia after his freshman season with little college passing tape and doubts about his future as a quarterback. Texas Tech offered him a chance only if he switched to linebacker, without a scholarship, prompting him to take a student loan and live with his brother. He bulked up, lifted weights twice daily, studied film, and climbed from sixth on the depth chart to become an All-America linebacker. Rodriguez emerged as a team captain with national recognition as Texas Tech advanced to the Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff contention, drawing Heisman consideration.
Read at ESPN.com
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