The Heisman Trophy has a long-standing bias against defensive players, and for Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez, that history just became personal. Out of 89 unique winners since 1935, only two primarily defensive players have ever taken home the award: Charles Woodson in 1997 and Travis Hunter last year — both of whom had to be two-way stars. So, where does that leave a pure defensive force like Rodriguez?

It undoubtedly looks like a game that is rigged from the beginning in favor of offensive players. A veteran college football announcer and Heisman trophy voter himself echoed the same sentiments about Rodriguez’s Heisman snub. “I’m not allowed to say who I voted for in my @HeismanTrophy balloting, but I can’t fathom his say and will that I’m disappointed this young man won’t be in New York

See Full Page