Jacob Rodriguez is entering his third and final year as Rider’s star quarterback. Although it has been pushed back due to the coronavirus, he is still enthusiastic about his upcoming football season and college plans. The Rider Chronicle sat down with him to discuss his plans for this school year.

Q: What do you expect to come out of your senior year?

A: Being able to teach the underclassmen the ins and outs of Rider. Being able to show all of our hard work.

Q: What made you decide Virginia over Texas Tech? 

A: The people. Both had great people, but Virginia’s academics, the coaching staff and the family atmosphere wasn’t something I can miss out of. 

Q: How was your practice schedule this summer? 

A: Wake up, eat breakfast, do abs or run, take it easy, eat lunch, work out again, then do school workouts at seven with the team, eat dinner, then go work out again. 

Q: Are you taking the semester off after you graduate, or will you just immediately go to Virginia? 

A: Our state game is planned for Jan. 15, so hopefully we make it and win, and if that’s the case then I report on the 16th to Virginia. It’ll be a quick turnaround, but hopefully we find ourselves in that predicament.

Q: How does the late start of the season affect you?

A: Usually by this time we are in pads already. This week we are getting ready for our first game, so not having started yet has been different. It’ll be the same season, but I guess it’s just colder. I’m still excited that we get to play the full length of the season, just later.

Q: What do you plan to major in?

A: Kinesiology. I want to be a coach for a higher level of students, more like college and professional if I can. 

Q: How do you feel this year about your academics?

A: I was supposed to take easier classes because I doubled up every year prior so I could graduate early, but Virginia said that all the early enrolled midyears have to take a full course schedule, so I added three classes to my schedule. It was more than what I thought I would be doing this year, but it’s not a big deal. I’m still looking forward to it. 

Q: What are some things you are looking forward to this upcoming year? 

A: Just having fun. It’s weird with everything that’s happening but I still want to be able to enjoy it.

Q: Is there a specific person that inspires you? 

A: Not really, acts inspire me. If  someone was to do or say something, I would start to believe in it more. It’s what they do, not who they are. I like how they show their true character.