Willie Rodriguez

2024 – Freshman • Saw action in all 12 games this season with three starts vs. Ohio, Vanderbilt and Louisville • Totaled five catches for 94 yards, averaging 18.8 yards per catch • Made his first career reception, a 25-yarder in the fourth quarter, in the win over No. 6/5 Ole Miss • Had a team-high-tying and a career-high three receptions for a team-high and career-high 53 yards at No. 3 Texas High School • Rated a unanimous three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, On3 and 247Sports • ESPN has him as the No. 24 tight end in the nation and Rivals has him as the No. 4 player in Kentucky • A four-year letter winner and two-year starter as a tight end for head coach Eddie Eviston at Covington Catholic • Helped the Colonels compile an impressive 42-11 overall record during his prep career, including a 14-1 record in 2023 • Recorded 29 catches for 488 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior, helping lead Covington Catholic to 14 straight wins and an appearance in the Kentucky High School Athletics Association Class 4A Championship Game • Also added 48 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on defense • Named USA Today High School Sports Star of the Week after scoring three touchdowns to help his team remain undefeated in November 2023 • Voted team captain by his peers • Earned the team’s Most Valuable Player award • Named Second Team All-State by The Courier Journal in 2023 • As a junior, Recorded 14 catches for 295 yards and five touchdowns, also adding 10 tackles and two sacks on defense • Also a four-year letter winner on the wrestling team and earned two letters on the baseball team • State qualifier three times in three different weight classes • Placed fifth at the 2023 KHSAA state wrestling championships • Chose Kentucky over offers from Auburn, Ole Miss, Purdue, Tennessee and Virginia Tech Personal • Born in Cincinnati, Ohio • Son of Jody and Willie Rodriguez • Has five siblings – Alexes, Sofia, Gabby, Antonio and Emilio • Comes from a family of athletes as mom, Jody, was an outside hitter on the volleyball team at Dayton from 1993-97; Dad, Willie, was a middle linebacker at Thomas Moore from 1992-96; Sister, Sofia, is currently a soccer player at Morehead State; Cousin, Patrick Henschen, was a tight end at Kentucky from 2017-21 • Major is undecided Willie Says • He chose Kentucky because of the family environment, the Big Blue Nation and the coaching staff • One word to describe him on the field is physical • If he could only eat one thing for the rest of his life he would choose Cuban food • If he could have dinner with one famous person, living or dead, he would invite Drake • His hobbies include baseball, wrestling, basketball, fishing and hanging out with friends and family