Jacob Rodriguez leads Top 25 Latinos to watch in College Football
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Xavier Andrade,
- August 19, 2025
Jacob Rodriguez, KC Concepcion lead Latinos in College Football
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez might as well be on a wanted poster, considering how many watch lists have named him this preseason. He quietly had one of the best seasons in college football last year with 127 tackles, but he won’t go under the radar this season.
Rodriguez was named to the Butkus Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists this preseason. The Butkus Award is given to the best linebacker in college football.
Two different awards – Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy – honor the best defensive player in college football. The Lombardi Award goes to the best lineman.
Rodriguez, a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, could have entered the NFL Draft after his stellar junior season. Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire persuaded him to return, though.
Jacob Rodriguez, a ‘rock star’
“I’m just glad (Rodriguez) made the choice to come back,” McGuire said. “He is such a rock star when it comes to our culture in our building and the way we work. I mean, he’s a pro. He understands and we’re always searching for people’s why.
“When you have older guys like him who’s married, it’s easy to know his why. And so, we were able to use that and make sure he came back and so. I was excited, very honored that he was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, and now he knows he’s got to go back it up.”
Our Esquina picked 25 Latinos to watch during the 2025 College Football season, and Rodriguez leads that impressive group. Here are the 25 to watch:
No. 1 Jacob Rodriguez, LB Texas Tech
Texas Tech tackling machine Jabob Rodriguez was picked as the Big 12 preseason Defensive Player of the Year. No other Latino was a preseason defensive or offensive player of the year in a Power 4 conference.
Rodriguez led the Big 12 with 77 solo tackles last year, finished third in the nation in solo tackles. He also assisted on 50 tackles while collecting five sacks and 11 tackles for a loss last season.
KC Concepcion earns raves at Texas A&M
No. 2. KC Concepcion, WR Texas A&M
KC Concepcion made the move to A&M after two seasons at NC State. As a freshman for the Wolfpack, he set freshman records in receptions (71), yards (839) and touchdowns (10). He was named the 2023 ACC Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the year.
Since transferring to Texas A&M, Concepcion has drawn raves from his teammates and coaches.
No. 3. Fernando Carmona Jr., OL Arkansas
The 6-foot-5, 325-pound redshirt senior from Las Vegas is one of the best offensive linemen in America. He was named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy. He was a First Team selection for USA Today’s All-SEC preseason team, and a Second Team All-SEC selection, as picked by the conference’s media.
Off the field, Carmona was also named as a representative to the SEC Leadership Council.
Tony Rojas set for breakout
No. 4. Tony Rojas, LB Penn State
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound junior is one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten. He was a named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team this preseason.
Rojas had 58 tackles (35 solo) with three interceptions last season, including a Pick 6. He has compiled 80 tackles (43 solo) over his first two seasons in college football.
No. 5. Josh Cuevas, TE Alabama
After helping Washington reach the College Football Playoffs National Championship Game as a sophomore, Josh Cuevas had a stellar junior year at Alabama last season.
He caught 16 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown last season. Cuevas was named to the watch list for John Mackey Award, which honors the best tight end in college football.
No. 6. Diego Pavia, QB Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was one of the best stories in college football last year, leading the Commodores to upsets over Alabama and Auburn.
The former New Mexico State star is ready to stun the college football world again, which he did recently by saying the Commodores are aiming for a national championship. Pavia completed 177 of his 298 pass attempts for 2,293 yards and 20 touchdowns as a graduate transfer last season. He also rushed for 801 yards and eight touchdowns on 192 carries.
Trebor Peña transfers to Penn State
No. 7. Trebor Peña, WR Penn State
After a stellar, breakout season as a fifth-year junior at Syracuse last year, Peña transferred to the Nittany Lions.
Peña led the ACC with 84 receptions for 941 yards and nine touchdown receptions. He also rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
No. 8. Fernando Mendoza, QB Indiana University
As a sophomore quarterback at Cal in 2024, the 6-foot-5 pocket-passer threw for 3,004 yards and 18 touchdowns.
In 2025, he is expected to take on the starting quarterback role at Indiana, bringing his talents to the Big Ten Conference for his junior season.
No. 9. Gabe Rubio DE Notre Dame
Injuries have limited Rubio, but the fifth-year senior should play a key role for the Fighting Irish this season. The 6-foot-5, 289-pounder compiled a career-high 24 tackles (12 solo) last season while helping Notre Dame reach the National Championship Game last year.
He had three tackles for a loss, including his first career sack last season.
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No. 10. Tyler Martinez, LB New Mexico State
The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder will try to build on his impressive redshirt junior season after earning Second Team All-Conference USA honors last season.
He had 96 tackles (47 solo), three tackles for a loss and a sack in 2024 for the Aggies.
Joey Aguilar goes to SEC
No. 11. Joey Aguilar, QB University of Tennessee
Joey Aguilar began his Division I career at Appalachian State, where he racked up 6,760 passing yards with 56 passing touchdowns in just two seasons. After his final season with the Mountaineers in 2024, Aguilar entered the transfer portal. He initially committed to UCLA, but he changed his plans in the spring, rerouting to Knoxville.
The University of Tennessee will turn to the senior quarterback to lead the Volunteer offense in 2025. The California native will be counted on to replicate the success that the team had in 2024, when they made an appearance in the College Football Playoffs.
No. 12. Devin Sanchez, DB Ohio State
Devin Sanchez, Our Esquina’s Latino High School Football Player of the Year in 2024, was one of the top recruits in the Class of 2025. He has added about 15 pounds of muscle and is now at 198 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame.
Sanchez, who is the No. 3 cornerback behind the two starters at Ohio State, graduated early from Houston’s North Shore High and joined the defending national champions in the spring semester. He is expected to be a major part of the defensive rotation and contribute on special teams immediately against Texas. Don’t be surprised if the former 5-Star makes an impact right away for the Buckeyes.
Aguero ready to step up
No. 13 Joenel Aguero, S Georgia
Joenel Aguero has been limited by injuries over his first two seasons at Georgia, but he appears ready for a breakout season as a junior. The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder started five games last year while appearing in 11 games as a sophomore. He had 26 tackles (17 solo) last season. If healthy, he is likely to start all season for the Bulldogs.
No. 14 Willie Rodriguez, TE Kentucky
The 6-foot-4, 244-pounder saw action in 12 games as a freshman last season. He had five receptions for 94 yards as a freshman, including a career single-game high 53 yards in Kentucky’s 31-14 loss against Texas. Rodriguez also returned three kickoffs for 31 yards.
No. 15. Raul Aguirre Jr., LB Miami
The former 4-Star recruit might be ready for a breakout junior season. He has seen action in 23 games over his first two seasons at Miami. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-2 linebacker played in 11 games and had 27 tackles (14 solo) with one sack. He also recovered a fumble in the end zone for his first career touchdown.
Gabe Plascencia leads kickers
No. 16. Gabe Plascencia, K San Diego State
Gabe Plascencia was named the Mountain West’s preseason Specialist of the Year. The 6-foot, 230-pound, left-footed senior from Oakland has made his last 12 field goal attempts in a row, which is the second longest streak in SDSU history. The former walk-on made 13 of 14 field goal attempts last season with a long of 50 yards. He also converted 18 of 19 PATs.
No. 17 S Peyton Woodyard
The former Alabama signee saw action in 14 games last season for the Ducks as a true freshman, mostly on special teams. He had nine tackles (five solo). Woodyard is competing for a starting spot among a cadre of young safeties at Oregon.
No. 18. Jordan Ochoa, LB Nebraska
Redshirt freshman Jordan Ochoa has put himself in great position to play a key role for the Huskers this season. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound linebacker made his collegiate debut in the Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College.
Josh Padilla a key backup for national champs
No. 19. Josh Padilla, OL Ohio State
Padilla isn’t expected to start for the defending national champions, but he could step in at any moment. The redshirt sophomore proved himself last year over 97 snaps, including 16 snaps while helping Ohio State beat Tennessee in the first round of the CFP. The 6-foot-3, 293-pounder center has also played guard.
No. 20. David Amador II, WR UTSA
It’s a testament to David Amador II’s talent that he was named to Athlon’s Preseeason All-American Conference Second Team. The redshirt sophomore made the most out of his five games, three starts, while dealing with injuries in 2024.
When healthy, David Amador II proved what he could do last season. He had a pair of 100-yard receiving games last year. He finished the season with 31 catches for 376 receiving yards and a touchdown. Amador also rushed for 19 yards on two carries.
No. 21 Ivan Carreon, WR Oklahoma
The 6-foot-6, 223-pound sophomore showcased his talent in the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy last December. He capped his freshman season with season highs for catches (seven) receiving yards (72) and longest reception (21 yards). Carreon saw action in 11 games as a freshman, finjshing with 10 catches and 89 receiving yards.
No. 22. Logan Loya WR University of Minnesota
As a new addition to Minnesota’s receivers’ room for the 2025 season, Loya is no stranger to college football. He has appeared in 47 games throughout his college career.
In 2023, he had 655 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns at UCLA. In 2024, he scored 12 touchdowns. He had a season-high 94 receiving yards against Iowa in 2024.
Rico Flores hopes to bounce back
No. 23. Rico Flores Jr., WR UCLA
Rico Flores Jr. was a major transfer portal addition from Notre Dame, but his first season in Westwood was cut short by an ACL tear after four games.
Flores is expected back. He proved during his brief time at UCLA and at Notre Dame that he’s a special receiver. He had one touchdown and 12 receptions for 187 receiving yards over four games last year after making 27 catches for 392 yards and one touchdown as a freshman at Notre Dame.
No. 24. Caleb Sanchez, QB Columbia
The 6-foot-4 native of Carson, Calif., made the most of his playing time as a freshman last year while leading the Lions to their first Ivy League title in 61 years.
He made his Ivy League debut late in the eighth game of the season, leading the Lions to a score on the final drive against Harvard. He then started the final two games of the season, both victories against Brown and Cornell.
No. 25. Zach Calzada, QB Kentucky
Zach Calzada, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound graduate student, led Texas A&M to an upset over No. 1 Alabama as a redshirt sophomore in 2021. He transferred to Auburn in 2022. He is back in the SEC after two seasons at FCS power Incarnate Word. The Cuban American from Georgia threw for 2,185 yards and 17 touchdowns while playing hurt over 12 games in his last season at Texas A&M.
Featured photo courtesy of Texas Tech Athletics.
Xavier Andrade
Xavier Andrade, who played football at Luther College, graduated with degrees in Communications and Political Science. He previously worked in editorial and social media for Hola Cultura, a Latino publication in Washington, D.C. Andrade currently coaches football at Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, Calif.
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