COMMITMENT! Virginia football adds pledge from dual-threat quarterback Jacob Rodriguez

The NFL Draft has just wrapped up, but the Virginia Cavaliers are taking the baton on adding an injection of new talent. The Hoos gained a commitment from Texas dual-threat quarterback Jacob Rodriguez on Monday.

Standing 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Rodriguez hails from Wichita Falls, Texas, where he ran the show for the Class 5A Rider Raiders. A three-star per 247 and Rivals—with a 247 Composite of 87.57—Rodriguez became Virginia’s second highest rated commit of the class.

In addition to UVA, Rodriguez holds offers from Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas State, Houston, and Iowa State, among others.

Rodriguez led Rider to a 9-5 record in 2019, earning honorable mention all-state honors in the Texas Associated Press All-State team. He shows an easy-looking athleticism, both throwing the ball and tucking it under. In most of these highlights, he looks to keep the option to pass for as long as possible before tucking it down to run. But when he runs, Rodriguez is neither afraid of contact nor a one-trick-bulldozing-pony.

(My personal favorite play here has little to do with his strength as a signal-caller, but is the one where he houses an intercepted botched field goal/extra point. Because, I mean ... what?)

(But the back shoulder throw at 4:08 is SOMETHING.)

With Richmond product Jay Woolfolk already in the fold for UVA in 2021, Rodriguez gives the Hoos a two-quarterback future that seems to be the coaching staff’s preference. Offensive coordinator Robert Anae was very open about calling plays differently to protect Bryce Perkins in 2019 while backup Brennan Armstrong was sidelined with a turf toe injury. Rodriguez is also insurance against the possibility that Woolfolk forgoes college football for a professional baseball career.

Rodriguez’s commitment pushes UVA’s 2021 class into the top 25 nationally, and ahead of VPISU for 4th in the ACC.