Chris Rodriguez Ready to Get to Work With Commanders

Vicky Graff Photo

One of the best traits Chris Rodriguez has is that he normally makes no attempt to hide his feelings — and he certainly didn’t after the Washington Commanders made him a sixth-round pick with the 193rd selection in the NFL draft Saturday.

“I feel freaking fantastic,” the Kentucky running back said to start a Zoom call with media members after his selection. I am happy. I am ready to get to work and make things shake for me.”

He was one of the most productive running backs ever at Kentucky and became the first UK running back drafted since Benny Snell in 2019 by Pittsburgh.

Rodriguez ranks third on UK’s all-time rushing list with 3,644 yards and became just the fourth player in program history to reach the 3,000-yard rushing mark. He also had 32 career rushing touchdowns, the second-most in school history, and his 35 career total touchdowns were the third-most in school history.

What made him so special was that he averaged 6.2 yards per carry, third best in program history, and had 20 100-yard games — more than any other Wildcat ever had.

He was suspended for four games in 2022 but still ran for 904 yards and six scores with five 100-yard games. In 2021 he had 1,379 yards — fifth best in one season at UK — with nine 100-yard games.

While the draft process can have some anxious moments, Rodriguez said Saturday it has been “fun” for him even though family members continually checked on him to make sure he was okay.

“I want to play football. Control the controllables,” he said.

Former UK teammate Wan’Dale Robinson reached out to him before the draft and told Rodriguez he had done all he could to impress NFL personnel.

“He said, ‘Proud of you. Love you and keep working,'” Rodriguez said about Robinson’s call.

He said it was an “exciting moment” when his name was called Saturday.

I was not nervous but there were some anxious feelings wanting to get off the (draft) board and see where I was going,” Rodriguez said. “But at the same time I knew I had to be patient. It was a great feeling once it happened and I am just ready to get to work.”

Rodriguez was not exactly sure who had reached out to him about being drafted.

“My phone has been blowing up. I have not been able to check all the messages, phone calls, Twitter and Instagram,” he said as family members gathered with him in Georgia.

He said he would eventually reach out to former teammate Jamin Davis, a Washington Commander linebacker, and others he knows playing for his new team.

“I don’t know (Washington) D.C. very well but at the same time I know everybody will click with me because that’s who I am. I am very outgoing, very kind. I am ready to meet some new people,” Rodriguez said. “I keep saying this but I am ready to get to work and feel it and take that next step.”