Willie Rodriguez Named to Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List
Kentucky tight end Willie Rodriguez has been named to the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List, it was announced this week.
Nominated by their schools, the members of the watch list have all demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity, and sportsmanship both on and off the field.
The award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is the first college football honor to focus primarily on a player’s leadership, both on and off the field. The winner of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year will also receive a $10,000 contribution in his name to his school’s athletic scholarship fund. The contribution will be made by Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation, the official charity of Jason and his wife Michelle.
Rodriguez, a native of Taylor Mill, Kentucky, is a junior management major. The two-year letterwinner has played in 25 career games with 11 starting assignments and has totaled 32 receptions for 452 yards and two scores in his Wildcat career. In Kentucky’s opener vs. Youngstown State he caught four passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Rodriguez’s commitment to service began at home, where he has helped care for his younger sister, Gabby, 19, who has Rett syndrome, a rare neurological and developmental disorder that primarily affects girls and impacts the way the brain develops. From an early age, he embraced the responsibilities of helping care for Gabby, assisting with her daily needs while serving as one of her biggest advocates and supporters. Through that experience, Rodriguez developed a deep sense of compassion, patience, and empathy that has shaped his character and inspired his desire to make a positive impact on those around him. The lessons he has learned from Gabby have fueled his passion for serving others, especially children, and have helped mold him into a servant leader who consistently puts the needs of others before his own.
Some of his community service events include volunteering at Golisano Children’s Hospital, volunteering at Easterseals of the Bluegrass, a non-profit in Lexington that supports individuals and families with disabilities, volunteering to help at a shoe drive to benefit Camp Horsin’ Around, a local nonprofit that enriches the lives of children whose health is compromised or who have special needs by collaborating with organized groups to provide an outdoor camp adventure and volunteering at Gabby’s high school, Scott High School, where he played games and spent time with her classmates.
Twenty semifinalists will be selected by a subset of the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Selection Committee and announced on Oct. 13. Three finalists will then be named for the award on Dec. 14. The winner will be announced at the award ceremony which will take place in Spring of 2027.
