SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 20, 2026

Willie Rodriguez

Kentucky Wildcats

Press Conference

Q. Team goals are the most important, obviously. What individual goals are you looking to achieve to help the team get better?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, I think me coming in as a leader of the offense this year, really, my goal was just do whatever they asked me to do in the offense and lead these young guys and bring them along with us as well.

Q. Coach Stein, when he was at the main podium, talked about the fact that you were a big priority, a must-keep guy when he came to town. What did he pitch to you as far as what your role was going to turn into this season?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: I think he didn't really -- we talked, I walked in that room, I could tell he's the type of dude I'd like to play for. He has a certain swagger to him and a certain confidence I love about him.

He didn't really have to tell me too much. He showed me I mean he showed me film, we talked, I liked his personality a lot, type of dude he was, and the way he coached the offense. And then he just showed me film and I loved it.

Q. You were a nominee for the Allstate Good Works Team. What does that mean to represent Kentucky not only as a player but as a person?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, it means everything to me. I mean growing up I had a younger special-needs sister so I always would go to a classroom a lot and just try to meet some of the other kids in that classroom.

And growing up with someone like that in your household, you learn a lot about helping people, and just showing up in your community for certain things. And she taught me a lot growing up. Going to the hospital, the children's hospital, stuff like that, you just see the effect it has on kids and their families. And it just makes you want to do it more.

Q. You're standing in the tunnel in the middle of Commonwealth Stadium, a bunch of screaming Wildcat fans out there. Do you still get goosebumps?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: For sure. I mean, I'm juiced and excited and almost can't control the excitement. I get so excited for game day, for sure.

Q. Do you speak Spanish at all?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: I do speak it a little. I used to be fluent when I was little. Kind of hard to keep it up. Both of my grandparents, my dad came over here in 1980 on the El Mariel from Cuba.

Q. Can you say something in Spanish?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: We usually walk in a room as Cubans, anybody that's Cuban here, you know (not speaking English).

That's how we greet each other. But, yeah, I mean that's the most I'll say. But I mean growing up, I loved Cuban culture. Everything about it. And Cuban food definitely played a big role in my life.

Q. Who told you about the tight end position. And what's the best advice that you received about playing the position?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: So I played running back until about freshman year of high school. Then I had a little growth spurt. So I would say there's this tight end before me in my high school, Michael Mayer. And he's with the Raiders right now. But that's someone I watched growing up a lot.

And that's when I realized -- at first when they moved me, I was not excited because running back, you could touch the ball a lot. But I realized I love tight end so much now is just because you do a little bit of everything. And just playing that role in the offense means a lot to me. I love playing tight end.

Q. I know it's the other side of the ball, but with new coordinators coming in, what have you seen from Jay Bateman, what he brings to your program?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: He's great. He's another guy, a lot of juice. Love talking to him every day. We go back and forth a lot every day.

He's a really good defensive coordinator. And I think he sets the standard very high for his guys over there, and they hold each other to it. So I think he's going to be great.

And we've got some dudes on that defense. So really good leaders as well.

Q. I know you've been busy today so you probably haven't seen it. But Coach Stein has a bit of a viral comment that speaks towards his confidence, basically saying that the reason he has confidence in this program rising to a championship level is because he's the coach. That's the sort of confidence that gets fans excited. But how does it impact the actual guys in the locker room?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: It's just a certain belief and a certain energy that you want around your locker room and around your program. You can kind of feel that energy around the building. And that certain confidence gives it to the whole team.

We walk around like that. We're here to win. We're not here to compete. We're here to win. You know what I mean? That's the confidence that he has, the confidence that he's given our team.

Q. As a returning player, you've been a go-to guy on the field. How does it feel to carry that kind of responsibility for other players?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: I think it's great. I mean, that's the role I want in the offense and I want that role. And I think (lost audio) as a leader, it's doing what I'm asked to, whether I block a big D lineman or spread out, perimeter block, it could be running a different route you've never ran before, just do whatever you're asked to do as a tight end.

Q. New coach means new culture. Unless you've talked to someone who's played football, it's hard to explain what culture is. What's the culture at Kentucky?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: Culture is us, we have certain standards and ours is connection. That's a big thing. Coach Stein talks about it a lot. The most connected team is the best team.

I think when you see a group of guys coming together and meet each other, nowadays, it's crazy, a lot of new guys in the locker room every year, and being a guy that's been at Kentucky the past few years, you want certain guys to know what you do it for, why you wear the Kentucky jersey, as well as knowing your teammates, you know, knowing where they're from.

We do get (lost audio) which is basically just learn more about each other, just knowing each other's families, upbringing, why you're here, your "why," and certain things like that makes you play, you know what I mean? You're playing for somebody. You know that person.

Q. You just mentioned wearing the Kentucky jersey as a Kentucky name. What does that mean for you to put it on every year?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: It means a lot. I know what it means to the fan base and I know how much they care. And all I want to do is just provide wins for them and what they deserve.

Just every time I put it on, I try to tell the guys, because not everybody's from Kentucky, how much it means. And just carry that with you throughout practice, throughout games and be thinking about that.

Q. Basketball gets so much attention in your state. Do you think football appetite is underappreciated by people not from Kentucky?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: I don't think so. I think the fan base is very passionate about whatever sport is going on I just think overall. They're a great fan base and they're hardcore. But they're a great fan base, and I love it.

Q. Quick question about last year. A lot of teams, looking back, and as the season goes on, there seems to be one game that's that pivotal game. It could go either way. You guys last year, I thought it was the Texas game. Had you won that -- I know you won a couple games later in the season -- but that one right there, did that take some starch out of you guys? And just think back to that game, if you won that, what the difference might have been?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: I mean, I don't like what-if scenarios. But I mean, it was a tough game, tough loss, but all you can really do is just figure it out from there. You know what I mean? Go back to work. That's really all you can do.

I think a certain thing we're trying to uphold this year is just never let belief go, or anything go. You know what I mean? If you have a tough loss, just bounce back next week, you know what I mean, put your head down and keep working. It's not about, you know what I mean, just continue to bring that energy and not let anything break you.

Q. You don't want that one loss to become a second loss, correct?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: Exactly. Yes, sir, exactly.

Q. What have you seen from your new quarterback?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: Kenny's a great dude on and off the field. I think, as a quarterback, he's a really good leader and commands the huddle really well. You know what I mean? As a tight end, there's only so much you can do in the huddle. You know what I mean? I might come in there a little bit too riled up from the play before or bring in a little too much juice, but the quarterback's a little bit of the mediator that comes in there and calms everybody down, gets you the play. And he does a really good job of that.

When it comes to accuracy, I don't know anybody who's better. When he gets going, he gets going so.

And at the same time, they always talk about his accuracy, but he's a really good athlete, you know what I mean? Love watching him run too.

Q. The tight end is the extra tackle in the run. It's the extra wide receiver in the passing game. The quarterback will tell you three best friends he can have is a good offensive line, a good running game and a tight end that can get over the middle. Do you like to get over the middle?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: Absolutely. I like to, I mean, whatever. I like to be in line out. But, yeah, whatever it is I like to be wherever they put me.

Q. Tact as a leader is a daunting task. What qualities do you hope to instill in these rookie players coming up on a new season?

WILLIE RODRIGUEZ: I think, going back to our core values, I think something like accountability is something you teach younger guys. You know what I mean? When nobody's watching, what are you doing? Are you missing a rep. You know what I mean? And you're not just hurting yourself, you're hurting your team. So trying to preach that to younger guys and trying to bring them along with you when you're, I mean, you're being a leader and you're trying to lead in a certain way, but bringing those dudes along with you to believe in what you believe.