So I’m looking to get a new rod to throw shakey heads and light weighted Texas rigs mostly 3/16. I’ve narrowed it down to 2 either a shimano expride 7’2 medium light plus or a G.Loomis imx pro 842c. I have a nrx 852c but it seems way too soft for this so I’m pretty much using it for ned rigs. I’m just wondering if the expride would have enough backbone to get a good hookset using seaguar invizx 12 lb. 

That's a bold username to not go with the Shimano. 

I have an IMX Pro 852c JWR and use it as a shaky head rod, 5/16 and 1/4oz finesse jig, and belly weighted hook and swim bait  combo, and it's fantastic for these presentations. It's a fun rod to fish.