Published by: AK98
Transfer portal gemstone and ex-MSU QB Will Rogers informed the college football world on Friday of his decision to join the University of Washington’s football team. Currently on an official visit there, Rogers confirmed his commitment to the university’s coaching staff. With one year of eligibility left, he is set to play immediately. During his four years at Starkville, Rogers amassed an impressive 12,315 passing yards, 2nd all-time in SEC history.
Rogers is poised to succeed Michael Penix, the Heisman Trophy finalist, as Washington’s quarterback next season. Under Penix’s leadership, the Huskies achieved an undefeated season, clinched the Pac-12 championship, and secured a place in the College Football Playoff.
Rogers expressed his attraction to Washington’s football strategy, led by coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. In 2023, the team led the nation with an average of 343.8 passing yards per game. He also noted the team’s strong lineup of skill players, tight ends, and offensive linemen.
“Obviously, how Coach Grubb runs his offense, it’s one of the tops in the country with how they score points and how quarterback friendly the system is. People started to catch on to them in 2022, that’s when the whole nation took notice. Things didn’t go as planned this year [for me], and I entered the portal. I had hoped that they would reach out.”
Originally from Mississippi, Rogers attended college roughly 90 minutes from his home near Jackson. His transfer to Washington signifies a major move, spanning nearly 2,500 miles. Rogers is at the point in his college career where he is trying to find a system that will showcase his talents for NFL scouts the best.
“It was nice to have family and friends to watch all the games. But at some point, you have to think about what’s best for your career. This is the best move for me and my family. That’s what we think is best.”
Throughout his tenure at Mississippi State, Rogers achieved remarkable passing statistics. Along with his total passing yards, he is the only SEC quarterback to have completed over 1,000 career passes, with a total of 1,301, including 505 completions in 2021 under then-coach Mike Leach.
Rest in peace, Mike Leach.
Having started 38 games, Rogers ranks 39th among NCAA career passers. Another season with around 4,000 passing yards, a milestone he has nearly reached twice, would place him among the top five passers in college football history.
However, Rogers’ performance saw a decline in 2023 following the late 2022 passing of Coach Leach, which led to a coaching change and a shift in offensive strategy. Limited to eight games due to injury, Rogers completed only 142 passes that year.
Rogers cited two connections that influenced his decision to move to Seattle. MSU’s strength coach Tyson Brown, a former player under Grubb and DeBoer at Sioux Falls (South Dakota), provided a sense of connection and familiarity. Additionally, Rogers was inspired by former teammate Dillon Johnson’s successful transfer from Starkville to Seattle, where Johnson rushed for 1,113 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
“Him going there and having some success was eye-opening for a lot of people. It was eye-opening for a lot of people in the locker room. It’s college football these days, man. When someone leaves the SEC that you played with and has some success, you have to take notice of that.”
Jo’Quavious Marks, another former MSU tailback, is also scheduled to visit the University of Washington campus this weekend. From the outside, it seems like Washington is building a transfer portal pipeline with disgruntled former-SEC athletes, specifically from MSU, and it’s genius.
The “Transfer Portal/NIL Era” that we are living in makes the landscape of the college football offseason look more like the Wild West:
Where top gun-slingers and stars of “WANTED” posters plastered throughout frontier towns have a seat at nearly any poker table, and lodging at nearly any hotel on the strip; where if you have the right currency, no bounty is too extravagant, no dream is too big. And there is always work for those who want to put a little extra coin in their pockets.
Do you enjoy what the transfer portal & NIL bring to college football?
Let me know in the section below, or follow us on:
Twitter: @AK98bleacherbro / @BleacherBrother
YouTube: @BleacherBrothersOfficial
Instagram: @bleacherbrothers