Film Room: Willie Rodriguez

Kentucky’s hot recruiting run continued on Friday. Willie Rodriguez is now the fourth in-state prospect to become a Wildcat.

The Covington (Ky.) Catholic tight end has joined the Kentucky football program giving Vince Marrow another win as a lead recruiter. Rodriguez picked the Cats over Purdue and Virginia Tech while also earning reported offers from Arkansas, Boston College, Cincinnati, Duke, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Louisville, Minnesota, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Syracuse, Texas Tech, UCF, and Vanderbilt.

A long-limbed prospect, Rodriguez has a big frame to grow into and flashes play strength as a high school prospect with a wrestling background. However, this is not just a power player as the ball skills and movement ability as a receiver are intriguing.

Kentucky has landed another quality tight end on the recruiting trail. Let’s step into the KSR Film Room to see what the Northern Kentucky native can bring to Wildcats next season.

Blocking versatility

In Kentucky’s pro-style scheme, the tight end position has a plethora of responsibilities. Whether aligned in-line or off the ball, the Wildcats use these players in a variety of different alignments and pre-snap movement. No matter where the tight end is lined up, this position must be able to provide value as a blocker.

Willie Rodriguez (6-4, 225) will need to add some mass and fill out his frame at the next level, but the three-star recruit flashes the potential to succeed in multiple ways as a blocker.

Rodriguez flashes power as a motion blocker that can create movement. The tight end then flashes the ability to climb to the second level to take on linebackers. Rodriguez is also used in the slot for passing quick game and flashes the ability to reach block in an outside zone concept while playing to the whistle.

Rodriguez can complete numerous blocks and this is what makes him an intriguing pro-style prospect. The in-state product projects as an in-line Y tight end in Liam Coen‘s scheme and that requires a player that must bring plus value as a versatile blocker. Rodriguez should be able to check those boxes for Kentucky.

QB friendly receiver

Any college football passing game will always most likely be driven by wide receiver production, but the tight end position plays a significant role in Lexington. The Wildcats seemingly have plans to use a good amount of 12 personnel based on roster construction. Tight ends will have a role in the passing game.

Willie Rodriguez is a big pass catcher that Kentucky quarterbacks could look to target over the middle.

With his ability to high point the football, Rodriguez becomes a huge weapon over the middle of the field and an easy target to hit for quarterbacks. The Kentucky commit can be a productive weapon in the intermediate passing game due to his huge catch radius. There is also some run-after-the-catch ability in the open field.

Rodriguez has size and good hand-eye coordination making him a quality option in the passing game.

Willie Rodriguez is a fit for Kentucky

Kentucky enters the 2023 season with six scholarship tight ends. That is a lot for any college football program. However, there could be an avenue for early playing time for the Covington Catholic product.

Willie Rodriguez is a true Y tight end who brings blocking value and good ball skills to a college offense. The newest UK commit will need some time to add some playing weight, but the fit is obvious.

Rodriguez can be an important piece in Kentucky’s zone blocking scheme and will serve as a quality play-action target across the middle of the field. The in-state prospect was a legit Power Five recruit who was a late riser in the process after a growth spurt. UK has landed a quality tight end with NFL potential due to some of his playing traits along with a frame that can likely get up to 240 pounds.