As Jacob Rodriguez filled up the highlight reel over the course of the Texas Tech football season, it was apparent the play-wrecking linebacker would be in the running for major national awards.

But would he become a serious candidate for college football's most prestigious individual award? The Heisman Trophy , for the nation's most outstanding college player, has been the domain of offensive skill-position players, usually quarterbacks, running backs and receivers.

It will stay that way this year. Rodriguez missed the cut to four finalists that were announced Monday, Dec. 8.

The remaining candidates are quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza from Indiana, Diego Pavia from Vanderbilt and Julian Sayin from Ohio State and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love . The winner will be

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