After being drafted by Commanders, Chris Rodriguez knows his mom would be proud
Chris Rodriguez wanted to make sure his family gathered for a joyous occasion.
When Rodriguez’s mother, Stephanie Thornton, died in January after battling lupus, Rodriguez noticed it had been years since he saw some of the family members who gathered to honor her memory. So, when Rodriguez had the chance to be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, he wanted to make sure the family was together again.
“I felt like we were all just with each other because of a tragic accident,” Rodriguez said in a Zoom news conference from his Georgia home after his selection. “I told them I didn’t want something like that to happen again. I wanted to make it to where we were all just around each other, making memories.”
The draft provided one of those life-changing memories when the Washington Commanders selected Rodriguez in the sixth round.
Rodriguez left Kentucky ranked third on the program’s all-time rushing yards list (3,643). Across five seasons, Rodriguez averaged 6.2 yards per carry with 33 rushing touchdowns. He broke the program record with 20 career 100-yard games.
The McDonough, Georgia, native built his reputation around a bone-crushing rushing style, bursting through tackles and rarely going down on the first hit, but it was no certainty that he would be drafted due to questions about how his game would translate to the NFL without elite speed.
Rodriguez has never been to Washington, but is eager to start the next chapter of his life. He is unlikely to enter the NFL as a featured running back, but Rodriguez expressed an eagerness to contribute in whatever way possible, including on special teams.
He was one of three Kentucky players selected in the draft, joining quarterback Will Levis (Titans, second round) and cornerback Carrington Valentine (Packers, seventh round). As of Sunday morning, at least three other Wildcats will have a chance to make an NFL roster with offensive lineman Tashawn Manning (Ravens) and linebacker DeAndre Square (Rams) signing free agent deals and linebacker Jacquez Jones (Falcons) receiving a rookie mini camp invitation.
Celebrating his draft selection without his mother was difficult for Rodriguez, but her memory continues to push him toward the next chapter of his life.
“All the goals and aspirations were through her,” Rodriguez said. “I wanted to do everything through football to give her a better life. My mom had lupus, and I wanted her to not struggle or have to go through anything. Being not here in this moment, I know she’s looking down and she’s proud. If she were here, she’d still be proud.”
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