Kentucky football: Chris Rodriguez Jr. in for big role with Commanders

Former Kentucky football running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. could see a big role in his rookie season with the Washington Commanders.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. is one of the most accomplished running backs in Kentucky football history. The bruiser of a back ranks third in school history in rushing yards and second in rushing touchdowns. It should be no surprise that Rodriguez’s NFL future is bright.

There may not have been a better place for Rodriguez to land than in the District. Brian Robinson Jr. is good and has a lot of potential, but the Washington Commanders don’t have a stud back. Antonio Gibson might be the second-string from day one, but fumble issues throughout his career could open the door for Rodriguez to scoop up that job.

And if you ask new Washington offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Rodriguez will push for a lot of playing time. According to SI.com, head coach Ron Rivera said Bieniemy, a former running back himself, was pushing to get a running back.

“This is a guy that Eric was very high on. He’s a guy that Eric thinks will most certainly have a role for us on the offensive side,” said Rivera.

While Bieniemy is given a lot of credit for the high-powered Kansas City offensive fueled by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, he’s always had a soft spot for running backs. Bieniemy played running back in college and in the NFL, later becoming an RB coach for a decade before moving up to an OC job at his alma mater, Colorado.

It also should be noted that Isiah Pacheco, Darrel Williams, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire all thrived in the KC backfield under Bieniemy’s tutelage.

Rodriguez has a lot of the same traits – he’s not a speedster, but a workhorse who will use his strength to break tackles and pick up extra yards on the ground.

It will be interesting to see how much value the Commanders place on the former Kentucky football star in training camp.