[2] Rodriguez attended East View High School in Georgetown and was a two-way lineman, receiving selection at right tackle to the All-State team in his senior year.
[2] A zero-star recruit, he ultimately signed to play both baseball and football for Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU)—now known as Nelson University—an National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) program.
[2] Rodriguez was shifted to being a defensive end with the SAGU Lions football team, and although considered "really raw", he was chosen first-team All-Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) at the end of the year, having totaled 44 tackles, 10.0 tackles-for-loss (TFLs), 5.0 sacks and a forced fumble in 10 games played (seven starts).
[2] Rodriguez sent an email to the defensive line coach of the then-NCAA Division II program Texas A&M–Commerce Lions.
[4] He gained 30 pounds (14 kg) for the position change and started 11 games during the 2022 season, finishing with 32 tackles, 6.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks.
[2] His defensive coordinator said that by the time the coaches arrived at 5 a.m., Rodriguez "was already on the field, sweating and putting himself through individual work, busy drilling his hands and his feet".
"[2] Rodriguez also was noted to be often eating at practices in order to increase his size: his coach from SAGU said that he hid food within his uniforms, including mangoes in his pants, Twizzlers in his helmet, as well as "peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, gummy bears", and one instance where he personally cut with a knife and ate raw cane sugar in between drills.
[8] 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.
'"[2] He weighed at 290 pounds (130 kg) in college but began adding weight with what The Athletic described as a "eat-as-much-as-humanly-possible diet", as he was considered small for a defensive tackle.
[2] On his forearm, he has a tattoo of Psalm 23:4: "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.