WillieRodriguez

2024 – Freshman
• Saw action in all 12 games this season with three starts vs. Ohio, Vanderbilt and Louisville
• Totaled five catches for 941 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 Western Carolina;  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