Chris Rodriguez Drafted No. 193 Overall by Washington Commanders in NFL Draft

The third all-time leading rusher in Kentucky football history will head to Washington, D.C.

Former Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez has heard his name called, as the Washington Commanders have selected the bruiser with the No. 193 overall selection in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. 

Rodriguez is the third all-time leading rusher in UK program history. His 3,644 career yards are behind just Benny Snell (3,873) and Sonny Collins (3,835).

Hailing from McDonough, Georgia, Rodriguez arrived to Lexington in 2018. He wouldn't see the field consistently until a year later, where he shared snaps with Lynn Bowden, Kavosiey Smoke and AJ Rose, totaling 533 yards and six touchdowns on 71 attempts.

He then broke out in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, earning over 100 carries for the first of what would be three seasons. He tallied 11 scores to go along with 785 yards. Despite missing two games due to illness, he was still selected to the All-SEC First Team.

Now the feature back, Rodriguez had a career-year as a junior in 2021, powering his way to 1,379 yards and nine TDs on the ground, while also adding three scores through the air. He was once again tabbed with All-SEC honors.

His final season in 2022 wouldn't start until October, as he missed the first four games of the campaign due to an off-the-field issue. He didn't skip a beat in his return, adding six more touchdowns and 904 yards.

Rodriguez will go down as one of the best tailbacks in school history and will now seek a professional career that's set to begin in D.C. He's the second Wildcat to get drafted, joining quarterback Will Levis, who was drafted No. 33 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the second round. 

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