Former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers dedicated to Washington Friday, giving the Huskies a transparent successor to star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for the 2024 season. Rogers is without doubt one of the most achieved quarterbacks in SEC historical past and can spend his closing season on the West Coast to assist assist UW’s transition to the Large Ten.
Rogers signed with Mississippi State in 2020. He owns the SEC profession completions document. His 12,315 passing yards and 94 passing touchdowns rank second and fourth in convention historical past. Rogers ranked because the No. 53 total participant obtainable and the No. 11 quarterback obtainable within the 247Sports portal rankings.
The veteran sign caller had an opportunity to probability to interrupt the SEC’s all-time passing document held by former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, however a shoulder harm suffered in an Oct. 7 win over Western Michigan compelled him to overlook a while. In his closing sport at Mississippi State towards Ole Miss, Rogers accomplished 25 of his 39 passes for 207 yards in a 17-7 loss.
Washington coach Kalen DeBoer used the switch portal to land Penix from Indiana when he took the job in 2021. Penix revived his profession with the Huskies and led this system to a 13-0 document and a spot within the Faculty Soccer Playoff, incomes an invite to New York Metropolis as a Heisman finalist alongside the best way.
Utilizing the switch portal to get a veteran
Within the new period of school soccer, it has grow to be increasingly more frequent for a program to get a confirmed sign caller by way of the switch portal over a highly-touted quarterback out of the highschool ranks. Washington signed Sam Huard — the No. 3 quarterback within the 2021 recruiting cycle — and elected to as an alternative begin Penix final season. The Indiana switch ranked because the No. 23 quarterback obtainable on the time. The transfer paid off massive time, as Penix was only a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Rogers is without doubt one of the most skilled quarterbacks in all of school soccer. He would not have the identical quantity of eligibility left as a few of the massive names on the prime like Dante Moore or Aidan Chiles, however he is confirmed he can compete and put up numbers towards elite SEC defenses. Going into the Large Ten subsequent yr with a confirmed quarterback must be seen as a serious win. With massive names like Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze seemingly off to the NFL Draft this spring, Washington can no less than rely on a veteran presence below heart to stabilize the offense.
New offensive system for Rogers
Rogers should study one more offensive system — the third of his school profession — when he places on a Washington uniform subsequent season. He began his profession within the late Mike Leach’s Air Raid scheme, the place he thrived. In 2021, Rogers threw for a career-high 4,739 yards and 36 touchdowns. He adopted it up by passing for 3,974 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2022.
After Leach’s passing, Zach Arnet put in a extra run-heavy assault. Between that and a few harm issues, Rogers’ numbers got here again right down to earth with a a career-low 1,626 passing yards in 2023. DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb have been refining their offensive system for the final 15 years. The duo have developed a scheme that shares many principals with Leach’s authentic Air Raid assault, however with their very own distinctive spin on it. It is definitely working. The Huskies averaged 343.8 passing yards per sport this previous season, which ranked No. 1 within the nation. There might be an adjustment interval for each the Washington teaching workers and Rogers as they get on the identical web page, however they need to have loads of familiarity to construct on.
