Broward 4M-3M football defensive player of the year: Nick Rodriguez, St. Thomas Aquinas senior

It took Nick Rodriguez four seasons before he could wear his preferred jersey number. Coincidently his No. 5, became the number of consecutive state championships won by St. Thomas Aquinas. They won their fifth in a row and 15th overall, both are state records. The four-time state champion wore No. 24 for his first three state championships and when Kimari Robinson graduated, Rodriguez, a Missouri commit, had his number. Rodriguez, a Sun Sentinel Super 11 selection, had defensive statistics that were even more impressive – a school-record 115 tackles (besting his old mark), including 70 solos, 15 TFL, nine sacks,…