College football awards season is underway and Texas Tech football star Jacob Rodriguez has his first national honor.

Rodriguez on Friday, Dec. 5, was named the winner of the Butkus Award, which bestows one such honor apiece to the nation's top linebacker in high school, college and pro football. The fifth-year senior from Wichita Falls Rider became Texas Tech's first winner of the Butkus Award, which originated in 1985.

The announcement came one day after Rodriguez was named defensive player of the year on the all-Big 12 team chosen by the conference's head coaches and one day before Tech plays Brigham Young in the Big 12 championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Rodriguez this season has been credited with 104 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and a sack. The facet for w

See Full Page