Jadon Rodriguez’s junior-season highlight video is filled with many dynamic plays.
Rodriguez’s favorite is a near 50-yard touchdown run where he broke multiple tacklers, stiff-armed a safety and sped into the end zone against highly-ranked Port Arthur (Texas). There’s a swing pass in the Hudl video that produced the same results – a 34-yard score.
The 5-foot-9, 189-pound Barbers Hill (Texas) senior running back attracted offers from Army, Navy and Air Force. The service-academy recruiting battle was won by Army Wednesday when Rodriguez contacted Black Knights tight end coach Chaston Blackshear and head coach Jeff Monken with his commitment. Rodriguez’s decision came down to Army and Air Force.
“It was close between Air Force and Army but I feel like I would be a better fit at Army,” Rodriguez said. “Navy came to school and offered but hasn’t showed much interest beyond that.”
Rodriguez’s Army spring-game visit made a difference in his choice. And, Blackshear’s home visit strengthened Rodriguez’s connection in May.
“The visit to campus convinced me,” Rodriguez said. “The facilities, coaching staff and the program. West Point was just an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Coach Blackshear came by for a visit and made me feel like family and put my mind at ease.”
Rodriguez, who rushed for 1.109 yards and scored 16 touchdowns as a junior, is being recruited by Army to play slotback. Army is getting quite the athlete in Rodriguez. He’s run the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds, the 200 in 22.56 seconds and long jumped 22 feet, 11 inches. Rodriguez can dunk a basketball and qualified for the Texas state championships in the long jump.
“I definitely like the idea of getting the ball in the open field instead of behind the line every time but I feel like I could play at halfback (single back in Army’s offense when/if they use shotgun) if they need me to,” Rodriguez said.
