Willie Rodriguez with UK associate coach Vince Marrow and UK assistant CJ Conrad. (Twitter Photo)
Covington Catholic tight end Willie Rodriguez admits his recruitment “really blew up” the past few months with numerous high level college coaches coming to see him.
The 6-4, 235-pound Rodriguez is a versatile athlete. He not only plays football, but he wrestles and until this year he played baseball. At one time he also played basketball.
He has about 30 scholarship offers, including Kentucky, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Texas Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Georgia Tech, Army, Boston College and Army. Notre Dame and Tennessee have checked in with him.
“I gained muscle and weight since our season ended. Coaches started seeing me more in spring ball,” he said. “I am continuing to put on muscle and get faster every day.”
He also won MVP at his position at the Best of the Midwest Combine in February in Noblesville, Ind.
“I always wanted to be recruited like this but it has still been a little surprising,” Rodriguez said. “To have this many (offers) is still surprising.”
Rodriguez knows there’s a lot to like about Kentucky.
“It is very close to home for me and all my friends and family would be able to watch (me play),” Rodriguez said. “I want a great academic school that will play me the right way and where I can get my degree.”
The Covington Catholic tight end admits he is compared often to former Covington Catholic tight end Michael Mayer, who went to Notre Dame and was the 35th overall pick in the recent NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.
“Our games are a little different,” Rodriguez said. “I have talked to him a few times and actually talked to him after he was drafted.
Rodriguez believes wrestling has helped him with football and baseball — where he was a center fielder — helped his eye-hand coordination.
“I have a really good combination of speed, athleticism and length that lets me catch a lot of balls,” Rodriguez said. “I can separate from a lot of guys and catch a ball on a go route or can put my hand in the dirt and block. I wanted to be well rounded and able to do everything well.”
He has been to Notre Dame, Penn State, Indiana, Pitt, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Ohio State and Kentucky.
He’s planning on making more visits this summer and is putting that schedule together now.
