Originally published Feb. 7, 2008 in the Omaha World-Herald
Did you know?
Rogers is the first NU signee from Alabama since Brett Byford in 2003. Byford started the past two years at center and served as a captain last fall.
The gurus say
Rated as a running back, Rogers is No. 42 nationally by rivals.com and No. 98 by scout.com.
About Rogers
He thrived as a running back last fall, rushing for 2,110 yards and 28 touchdowns to lead his team to an 11-3 record while earning first-team all-state honors for Class 6-A all-state honors, and he also played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. Vestavia Hills advanced to the semifinal round of the state playoffs by defeating powerhouse Hoover High in the quarterfinals, the team's second straight playoff trip. Rogers is also a star in track and field. He's been timed at 6.57 seconds in the 55-meter dash, a time that won the indoor state high school crown. As a junior, he rushed for 2,100 yards and 31 touchdowns, no small clue as to both Rogers' high level of consistency and outstanding personal drive on the field. Rogers was wooed by many big name schools closer to home: Auburn, Clemson and Kentucky offered scholarships. UCLA also tried to entice Rogers to sign before he made his decision to become a Husker.
Our take
A move to the secondary might prevent Rogers from his best chance at early playing time. But it's easy to see what the Huskers are doing here by hording speed on defense. Newcomers like him will make NU a faster team right away, even if only in practice.