Commanders RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. Reunites With LB Jamin Davis: 'My Boy!'

The Washington Commanders selected Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but his ties to the team came before draft night.

Drafting running backs have became a staple for the Washington Commanders in recent history, and this year was no different. The team selected Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. 

In Washington, the No. 193 overall pick will reunite with former Wildcats teammate linebacker Jamin Davis, who led the Commanders with 104 tackles during 2022. 

"Jamin (is) my boy," Rodriguez said. "When I first got to Kentucky, Jamin, he kind of kept me above float. I was always in my head about not playing, but he was always saying like, Peach State pride. It's what he always used to say. I was one of the few Georgia boys on the team. At Kentucky, it was mostly Ohio and not Georgia. So when I got there, it was him, Yusuf [Corker] and we stayed Peach State pride and we kinda lived by it and kept working.”

Rodriguez will join a running back core of Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson, both of whom Washington has drafted since 2020. And while there may be an uphill climb to a starting role, the Commanders have shown their belief in the 2021 All-SEC Second Team recipient. 

Despite the depth at the position, Rodriguez is ready to make an impact in anyway possible entering his rookie campaign. 

"Yeah, I just wanna show them that I'm willing to do anything," Rodriguez said. "Not only am I willing to be a running back, I'm willing to be a great teammate, willing to be on special teams, any special teams at that, and I'm gonna give him my best 24/7. There's not gonna be a day that I take a day off. I'm not gonna take a rep off. Like, this is something I've been dreaming for my whole life and it's coming true, so it's time to get to it."

Rodriguez was recently named Washington's "most interesting" draft choice by CBS Sports. 

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