Willie Rodriguez is a Versatile TE for Kentucky.
2026 Usage Outlook · projected share of team plays
Regressed toward the TE mean. Model correlation r≈0.42 on a 2019-2025 walk-forward — volume only; efficiency not projected.
2025 Production
Performance Analysis · 2025 · vs TE peers
Balanced profile without a single dominant trait — contributes across multiple dimensions.
- ▸Top-10% efficiency among TEs — elite opponent-adjusted EPA rate.
- ▸Limited usage share suggests a rotational or specialist role.
- ▸5 high-impact games (EPA/play > 0.4) this season — elite ceiling.
- ▸Particularly dangerous on passing downs — efficiency spikes in obvious pass situations.
- ▸Strong second-half surge — EPA/play improved 0.08 from the first to second half of the season.
- ▸Peak game: 1.82 EPA/play in Wk 3 vs Eastern Michigan (SP+ -15).
NIL Market Tier· 2025
On3 valuation ↗Top-3 player at position nationally. Collective + national brand deals.
Tier is a model estimate based on position, school brand, performance rank, and usage — not a reported deal. NIL deals are private. For a real market valuation, see On3's NIL profile, which factors in social following and actual deal tracking.
Historical Comparables · TE · efficiency + volume + value
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ty Thompson | Tulane | 2024 | 48 | 0.420 | 0.4 | 20.2 |
| Seth Green | Minnesota | 2018 | 83 | 0.390 | 0.0 | 32.4 |
| Johnny Langan | Rutgers | 2020 | 59 | 0.300 | 0.0 | 17.7 |
| Evan Svoboda | Wyoming | 2024 | 75 | 0.290 | 0.0 | 21.8 |
| Jordan Myers | Rice | 2021 | 59 | 0.270 | 0.2 | 15.9 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
Game Log · box score + EPA, week by week
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Rec | Rec Yds | Avg | Rec TD | Long | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vsToledo | W24-16 | 6.0 | 2 | 31 | 15.5 | 0 | 23 | -0.44 |
| 2 | vsOle Miss | L23-30 | 24.0 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 | 9 | 0.44 |
| 3 | vsEastern Michigan | W48-23 | -14.7 | 2 | 28 | 14.0 | 1 | 25 | 1.82 |
| 5 | @South Carolina | L13-35 | 5.9 | 2 | 66 | 33.0 | 0 | 53 | 1.54 |
| 6 | @Georgia | L14-35 | 24.1 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 | 5 | -0.23 |
| 8 | vsTexas | L13-16 | 16.2 | 3 | 32 | 10.7 | 0 | 19 | 0.11 |
| 9 | vsTennessee | L34-56 | 15.0 | 2 | 28 | 14.0 | 0 | 18 | — |
| 10 | @Auburn | W10-3 | 11.6 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 | -0.16 |
| 11 | vsFlorida | W38-7 | 3.5 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | 8 | 1.79 |
| 13 | @Vanderbilt | L17-45 | 20.3 | 6 | 78 | 13.0 | 0 | 20 | 1.11 |
| 14 | @Louisville | L0-41 | 12.4 | 1 | 15 | 15.0 | 0 | 15 | 0.08 |
Usage & Situational · Pro
- Standard downs
- 0.47
- Passing downs
- 0.62
- Pass / Rush EPA
- 0.53 / —
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).