National Football Foundation

Standing among our nation’s future military leaders, Andrew Rodriguez cut an impressive path as one of the most decorated student-athletes to attend West Point. In 2011, he became the second Campbell Trophy^® recipient from a service academy.
 
The Alexandria, Virginia, native carried a 4.14 GPA as a mechanical engineering major, recording six terms with a GPA of 4.0 or higher. His performance in the classroom ranked him third in his class of 1,052 cadets. A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District I selection, he earned First-Team Academic All-America accolades in 2011.
 
A standout on the field, he missed the entire 2010 season due to a potential career-ending back injury, but he returned as a team captain in 2011 to start at outside linebacker. He finished the season with 59 tackles while leading the team in pass breakups, passes defended and fumble recoveries. Combined with his team leading 85 tackles in 2009, he concluded his career with 144 tackles.
 
Following his acceptance of the Campbell Trophy^®, Rodriguez became the 82nd recipient of the James E. Sullivan Award, presented by the Amateur Athletic Union to America’s top amateur athlete.
 
Rodriguez is the son retired U.S. General David Rodriguez, whose posts included Commanding General of the United States Africa Command and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Forces Command.
 
The younger Rodriguez completed the West Point Academic Development Program with the U.S. Army in Italy. He previously served as a platoon leader and company executive officer for the 75th Ranger Regiment of the U.S. Army. He then served as an Assistant Brigade Planner in Colorado.

Rodriguez attained the rank of captain in the U.S. Army, and in 2018 he was deployed in Afghanistan with 120 soldiers under his command. 

He is currently a member of the U.S. Army Advanced Civil Schooling Program, working toward an MBA and a master’s in mechanical engineering at MIT. Rodriguez will then be assigned to teach mechanical engineering at the U.S. Military Academy.