Willie Rodriguez, 3-Star Cov Cath Tight End, Commits to Kentucky

Another instate talent is playing college football for his old Kentucky home. Friday morning on Kentucky Sports Radio Covington Catholic tight end Willie Rodriguez announced his commitment to Kentucky.

Willie Rodriguez is the fourth Kentucky native to join the Wildcats’ 2024 recruiting class. The other three pledges — Cutter Boley, Aba Selm and Hayes Johnson — all took official visits with Rodriguez in early June, lobbying for the talented tight end to pledge his allegiance to the Big Blue Nation.

BBN, I’m home! @UKCoachStoops @LiamCoen @vincemarrow pic.twitter.com/Nx1FgofQLU

— Willie Rodriguez (@w_rodriguez10) June 23, 2023

Let’s work!! pic.twitter.com/ZPkbN1L0Fj

— Willie Rodriguez (@w_rodriguez10) June 23, 2023

In addition to Kentucky, Willie Rodriguez took official visits to Purdue and Virginia Tech. He also held offers from Arkansas, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Louisville, Vanderbilt, and a handful of other Power Five programs. SEC schools cranked up the pressure this spring, until Liam Coen and Vince Marrow made a trip to Northern Kentucky to offer a scholarship and turn the tide in his recruitment.

A three-star prospect, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end is the No. 8 player in the state of Kentucky, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

What Willie Rodriguez is bringing to Kentucky

If Willie Rodriguez is half the player as his predecessor, No. 35 overall draft pick Michael Mayer, Kentucky is getting a good one. Comparing the two Cov. Cath tight ends is a fool’s errand, but there is some common ground. They each produced for a high-quality high school football program and have desirable size at the next level. Now, Rodriguez isn’t built like Superman, but he does show off some impressive pass-catching skills for an athlete of his size. He described his game earlier this month.

“I think it’s just my balance of physicalness and splitting out in the wide receiver position that really separates me from a lot of other tight ends and makes me different,” Rodriguez told KSR+, while also noting areas for improvement. “Really just perfecting all my techniques in the blocking game and my route running.”

He’s a big guy that can play the traditional Y-tight end position. Willie Rodriguez also shows some wiggle in open space and an ability to high point the football as a red zone target. Vince Marrow has made tight end a position of strength for the Kentucky football team and that will continue with Willie Rodriguez in Lexington.