Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
Rogers Finds His Role On Defense
October 12, 2021 | Football
STARKVILLE – Timar Rogers reeled in nearly 30 scholarship offers during his recruitment.
The first of those offers for the Deland, Fla., native came from the complete opposite end of the country. Mike Leach and his staff at Washington State were the initial program to send a scholarship offer.
A total of 27 other schools followed suit quickly thereafter including Auburn, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, N.C. State, Wake Forest and West Virginia. Mississippi State also joined the mix whenever Leach and his staff left Pullman and took over the Bulldogs' program.
After a brief courtship and doing some research on MSU, Rogers ended his recruitment and wrapped it in Maroon and White.
"It was just the love of the fan base, the coaching staff and the players," Rogers said. "I just fell in love with (Mississippi State) before I got here. Then I came on a visit and liked it so that's why I committed. I just looked at my position and how many people they've put in the NFL from that position. (Mississippi State) has got a lot of players in the NFL."
Rogers went on to have a successful senior year at Deland High School where he made 41 tackles – 15 of which were behind the line of scrimmage – and eight sacks. He also had an interception and forced and recovered a fumble in only seven games in a COVID-19 shortened season.
Rogers' focus since arriving at MSU in June has been on getting bigger. He enrolled weighing 189 pounds but has already bulked up to the 205-210 range.
"It was just a lot of work in the weight room, eating and protein shakes," Rogers said. "They're going to get you big here."
The strength staff still wants him to add another 5-10 pounds to his 6-foot-1 frame.
Rogers has been working exclusively at Will linebacker this fall. Admittedly, it took some time for Rogers to make the adjustment to the college game during the early stages of fall camp.
"At first it was pretty rough but I kind of got used to it," Rogers said. "The coaching staff did well and put me with the older guys and they're teaching me. It's a big difference – size-wise and speed-wise. You've got to be mentally prepared."
Although Rogers has yet to make his collegiate debut, he has made a good initial impression with his position coach, who just so happens to be MSU's defensive coordinator Zach Arnett.
"Timar is athletic," Arnett said. "Going against our offense every day in practice, he's shown the ability to play in space and that's at a premium. He definitely flashes that and shows that. I'm really excited about his future."
Rogers seems to have found his role on this year's team and is hard at work daily with some of the veteran Bulldogs to ensure he does have a bright and successful future at State.
"I've fallen into place and the upperclassmen around me help me when I need to know something," Rogers said. "I've been pretty happy. I'm liking it here."
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The first of those offers for the Deland, Fla., native came from the complete opposite end of the country. Mike Leach and his staff at Washington State were the initial program to send a scholarship offer.
A total of 27 other schools followed suit quickly thereafter including Auburn, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, N.C. State, Wake Forest and West Virginia. Mississippi State also joined the mix whenever Leach and his staff left Pullman and took over the Bulldogs' program.
After a brief courtship and doing some research on MSU, Rogers ended his recruitment and wrapped it in Maroon and White.
"It was just the love of the fan base, the coaching staff and the players," Rogers said. "I just fell in love with (Mississippi State) before I got here. Then I came on a visit and liked it so that's why I committed. I just looked at my position and how many people they've put in the NFL from that position. (Mississippi State) has got a lot of players in the NFL."
Rogers went on to have a successful senior year at Deland High School where he made 41 tackles – 15 of which were behind the line of scrimmage – and eight sacks. He also had an interception and forced and recovered a fumble in only seven games in a COVID-19 shortened season.
Rogers' focus since arriving at MSU in June has been on getting bigger. He enrolled weighing 189 pounds but has already bulked up to the 205-210 range.
"It was just a lot of work in the weight room, eating and protein shakes," Rogers said. "They're going to get you big here."
The strength staff still wants him to add another 5-10 pounds to his 6-foot-1 frame.
Rogers has been working exclusively at Will linebacker this fall. Admittedly, it took some time for Rogers to make the adjustment to the college game during the early stages of fall camp.
"At first it was pretty rough but I kind of got used to it," Rogers said. "The coaching staff did well and put me with the older guys and they're teaching me. It's a big difference – size-wise and speed-wise. You've got to be mentally prepared."
Although Rogers has yet to make his collegiate debut, he has made a good initial impression with his position coach, who just so happens to be MSU's defensive coordinator Zach Arnett.
"Timar is athletic," Arnett said. "Going against our offense every day in practice, he's shown the ability to play in space and that's at a premium. He definitely flashes that and shows that. I'm really excited about his future."
Rogers seems to have found his role on this year's team and is hard at work daily with some of the veteran Bulldogs to ensure he does have a bright and successful future at State.
"I've fallen into place and the upperclassmen around me help me when I need to know something," Rogers said. "I've been pretty happy. I'm liking it here."
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Players Mentioned
LB
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