Malcolm Rodriguez is Coming Back for 2021
ORLANDO, Fla. – Later this afternoon Oklahoma State will kick off the final game of their 2020 season in the Cheez-It Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes. Just before the Cowboys took the field, they got some good news as linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, a senior out of Wagoner, Okla. and one of the team’s top defenders told me in an interview for the Cowboy Radio Network that he is coming back for a “super senior” season in 2021.
“Yeah, I’ll be back for one more year,” said Rodriguez. “I’ll get my redshirt back and I’ll finish my degree and that’s what I wanted to do.”
Rodriguez played safety for the Pokes on defense as a true freshman in the 2017 season. Overall, Rodriguez is starting his 30th straight game today and he has started 34 games in his career. This season he has 73 tackles, 52 unassisted, with seven tackles for loss, three sacks, five quarterback hurries, two fumbles caused, and one recovered. In his career, he has 270 tackles, 171 unassisted, and he has a pick six to win a game at Iowa State in 2019.
“I’m really happy,” defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. “he hadn’t told me that, but I’m happy because Malcolm is a good player and good leader. He gets guys down. He can really tackle. He will make us better next season.”
One of the primary reasons that Rodriguez is coming back is friendship. I saw him on Monday night at the Cowboys team hotel with his best friend defensive end Brock Martin and his family. Rodriguez was all smiles and a big part of that is being with people you love and care about.
“That’s always good to finish together,” Rodriguez added.
The 5-11, 220-pound linebacker told us this back on Dec. 21, but we agreed to let it out during the pregame of the Cheez-It Bowl. I thought for sure it would leak out, but Rodriguez is not big on creating news unless it is through his performance on the field. He hopes to do more of that Tuesday evening in Orlando and now throughout the 2021 season.
There will be many other decisions being made over the next week or so. Offensive lineman Josh Sills seems committed to being back next season. Cowboy back Logan Carter has also said he will likely be back. We know the receiver Dillon Stoner will be moving on, but among the names that could be back are receivers Landon Wolf and Tay Martin have decisions to make. We also know transfer cornerback Christian Holmes is considering his options.
Rodarius Williams, Teven Jenkins, Dee Anderson, and Chuba Hubbard are seniors that have moved on. We expect Amen Ogbongbemiga, Devin Harper, Ry Schneider to finish their careers in the Cheez-It Bowl.