Rodriguez played in three games and rushed twice for 43 yards in his true freshman season before opting to redshirt the rest of the season.[6] As a redshirt freshman in 2019, he rushed 71 times for 533 yards and six touchdowns.[7] As a redshirt sophomore in 2020, Rodriguez was the Wildcats' leading rusher with 785 yards and 11 touchdowns.[8] As a redshirt junior in 2021, Rodriguez rushed for 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns on 205 carries during the regular season.
In May 2022, Rodriguez was arrested by a campus police officer and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and careless driving.[9] He pleaded guilty in July and was fined US$200 and had his driver's license revoked for six months.[10] Rodriguez was later accused of filing inaccurate time cards while working part-time at UK HealthCare and was suspended for the first four games of the 2022 season for both incidents.[11][12] Rodriguez scored a six-yard rushing touchdown with less than two minutes left in the 2022 Citrus Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes, helping Kentucky win 20–17.[11] A two-time team captain, he graduated with a degree in community and leadership development in May 2022 and is second in Kentucky history in career rushing touchdowns and third in rushing yards.[13][14]
Rodriguez was selected by the Washington Commanders in the sixth round (193rd overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.[17] He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 12, 2023.[18] On December 28, 2023, the Commanders placed him on injured reserve due to concussion symptoms.[19] He appeared in 13 games as a rookie, finishing with 51 carries for 247 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[20]
Rodriguez was waived by the team on August 27, 2024, and joined their practice squad the following day.[21] He was elevated for the Week 9 game against the New York Giants, recording 11 rushes for 53 yards.[22] Rodriguez was promoted to the active roster on November 9, 2024.[23] He was waived on November 23 and re-signed on November 26.[24][25] A week later, Rodriguez ran 13 times for a career-high 94 yards and a touchdown in a game against the Tennessee Titans.[26] In the Week 17 win over the Atlanta Falcons, he recorded his third rushing touchdown in the season.[27]
Personal life
Rodriguez is nicknamed C-Rod.[28] His mother, Stephanie Thornton, died from lupus in January 2022.[29]