The Carolinas have a rich, deeply rooted cowboy heritage dating back to the colonial era, well before the mythic American West took shape. North Carolina even boasts a western-themed town founded in 1954: Love Valley, tucked into the Brushy Mountains.
Come April — specifically April 24 — the Carolinas could be reaffirming their cowboy legacy in modern football. Dan Morgan knows linebackers, and after a week at the Senior Bowl, I’m confident he’ll be drawn to one standout: Texas Tech prospect Jacob Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was a force in Lubbock, racking up elite honors including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Butkus Award, and Lombardi Award.