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Current Buffalo verbal Elijah Rodriguez, a 6'6, 265 lb. offensive tackle out of Houston, is taking an official visit to the University of Texas this weekend. New Longhorn head coach Charlie Strong recently offered the underrated lineman after a number of Texas tackle commits decommitted following the coaching change and the visit was scheduled shortly thereafter. Rodriguez has been committed to Colorado since late August but Buffs fans have always had him on a list of decommitment possibilities because of the increased attention he has been receiving during and after his senior season.
SB Nation Longhorn site Burnt Orange Nation has a great breakdown on Rodriguez.
A right tackle as a junior, it doesn't take long to realize that he has excellent mobility -- he was a player that Cy Creek pulled from his right tackle position and his movement ability in space is impressive, as well his natural flexibility, a key for any football player but especially offensive lineman.
One play in particular stands out -- in getting to the second level on a screen pass to the perimeter, Rodriguez had to re-direct to make contact, but does so without leaving his feet. Instead, he had the reactive body quickness to get his hands on the smaller defensive player to make his block, no easy task.
The persistence to finish blocks is clearly there for Rodriguez, as well as enough baseline athleticism to keep him from being a questionable take, but the area where he will need to show improvement in college is with his punch, which is not one of his better attributes coming out of high school.
Hopefully Elijah will stick with his original choice, but the Buffaloes are going to be sweating this out until the very end. If Rodriguez makes it to Tuesday without switching his pledge CU fans MIGHT be able to breath a bit easier.
