5’11, 185 pounds. 3.0 GPA/3.65 WGPA. A junior out of Montgomery Blair HS. Another linebacker build at DimeU’s disposal.

This type of setting usually doesn’t suit well for the back/backer type of prospect. Yet if Saunders and Rodriguez can carve up defenses while serving as respectable pass-cover guys near the hashes, they’d prove to me just how special they can be when projecting them to both sides of the field at the next level. How natural of a pass-catcher is Rodriguez? Is he capable of running legitimate routes, is more of a backfield swing/bubble guy on offense or can he provide more? Excited to see and learn more.

Junior Rodriguez’s strengths lie in his explosiveness, decisiveness, and ability to generate big plays. He is a true north-south runner who wastes little time hitting the hole and reaching top speed, making him highly effective between the tackles. Rodriguez’s straight-line speed allows him to break away from defenders, leading to many chunk plays. He has shown flashes of physicality when running the football and can change direction when necessary. Rodriguez also can catch the ball out of the backfield, adding a versatile element to his game.

I’d like to see more plays on his highlights that showcase his elusiveness, as most of them show him running past defenders rather than making them miss (which isn’t bad). While he can be physical at times, Rodriguez will need to add more weight to his frame to improve his ability to absorb contact and consistently break tackles at the next level.