University of Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is no stranger to bowling through defenders, but now it’s a different type of bowling he’s trying to make an impression at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. The Blue Stable’s Landon Oliver was able to talk to him about his senior season, dealing with injuries, and how he plans to attack this week and NFL Draft preparation moving forward.
LO: “You struggled with a few injuries this season, coming back you really provided a spark to the offense and team. How much of a relief was it to get back out there with your teammates?”
CRJ: “It was hard. Going out there watching them play and not being out there with them. It was tough. You want to be out there with your team and battle with them. You watch and the RBs are doing good but maybe you would do something different. At the same time you have to encourage them to keep doing better. But they were winning games, so I couldn’t be mad.”
LO: “Where are you at right now with those injuries?”
CRJ: “Throughout the whole season I thought it was a hamstring but they did an MRI and it ended up being a PCL sprain. They said it was healed and I was dealing with the aftermath of it. I feel good. I feel like I’m 100%.”
LO: “How much of an inspiration was it watching other teammates fight through and battling through injuries together?”
CRJ: “A lot of us were out there battling. Will, J-Dub, Jacquez Jones. But we all know at the end where we wanted to be, And what was our end goal. So we all made it a mission to get treatment every day, we have to be good to go. So we did that, we battled and at practice we all went to war.”
He seemed fired up, healthy, and ready to show out in front of a bevy of scouts and evaluators that are looking for that next bruising running back who can take an offense over the top. I think Chris Rodriguez Jr. has a great chance to be that guy this week.
