Levi Drake Rodriguez

Levi Drake Rodriguez (born August 4, 2000) is an American professional football nose tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the SAGU Lions and Texas A&M–Commerce Lions and was selected by the Vikings in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Early life Rodriguez was born on August 4, 2000, and grew up in Georgetown, Texas. At age four, he started playing baseball and football. At approximately eight years old, he wrote down on a whiteboard a goal of becoming a professional football player, which he took each time he moved. He had caught the attention of coaches at SAGU when he "two-hand dunked a basketball while wearing cowboy boots", according to The Athletic. He gained for the position change and started 11 games during the 2022 season, finishing with 32 tackles, 6.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks. He finished with 10 games started and totaled 56 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. His 56 tackles were second on the team, while he led the SLC in sacks and was fourth in the conference in TFLs. He appeared in 50 games, 47 as a starter, in his collegiate career, having 221 tackles, 43.5 TFLs, 22.0 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Professional career

Rodriguez initially received little attention as a prospect for the NFL draft, but began getting noticed after being named the most valuable player of the Tropical Bowl with 3.5 sacks, and having an impressive pro day performance. He was ultimately selected in the seventh round (232nd overall) of the draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He became the first person from East View High School to be chosen in the draft and was the first Texas A&M–Commerce player selected since Antonio Wilson in 2000, who was also selected by Minnesota.

On November 2, 2025, during a Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions, Rodriguez blocked a field goal in the fourth quarter, which was then returned by Isaiah Rodgers to the Lions’ 26-yard line. The Vikings would go on to win 27–24, and Rodriguez won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Personal life Rodriguez is a devout Christian.