George Rogers (American football)
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George Washington Rogers Jr. (born December 8, 1958) is an American former
College career
Rogers was highly recruited out of high school where he played for legendary coach Cecil Morris and decided to attend the University of South Carolina when coach Jim Carlen told him that he could play in his freshman year. Due to his large size, he seemed destined to play fullback rather than tailback. However, the Gamecocks had two running backs who graduated at the same time, so he began his college career as the starting tailback midway through his freshman season.
Rogers rushed for 1,006 yards (playing in only eight games) during his sophomore year, despite splitting time with fellow sophomore Johnnie Wright. In Rogers's junior campaign, he had 1,681 rushing yards. After that season, he was given first-team All-American honors by the Associated Press and Newspaper Enterprise Association,[1][2] and second-team honors from United Press International.[3] He finished seventh in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
In 1980, the stage was set when the Gamecocks returned plenty of talent, which was headlined by senior and Heisman candidate Rogers. South Carolina finished the season with an 8–3 record. Rogers's 1,781 rushing yards was the best in the nation and earned him a spot as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
The Downtown Athletic Club in New York City named Rogers as the winner of the 1980 Heisman Trophy. Rogers beat out an impressive group of players, including Pittsburgh defensive lineman Hugh Green and Georgia running back Herschel Walker. Rogers also earned spots on eight All-America teams, all first-team honors.
Rogers had his number 38 retired during halftime ceremonies at South Carolina's final 1980 home game. He was the first University of South Carolina player to have his jersey retired while still active at the school.[4]
Rogers left the Gamecocks football program as its most successful running back, and many of his records are still intact. His 5,204 yards is the highest career total by any Gamecock running back, and his 31 rushing touchdowns is tied with Harold Green for second. He is second on the all-time points scored list, with 202. Rogers rushed for over 100 yards in 27 games, including his final 22 college games.[5]
College statistics
Legend | |
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Independent record | |
Led Independents | |
NCAA Record | |
Led the NCAA | |
Bold | Career high |
George Rogers | Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||
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Season | Team | GP | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
1977 | South Carolina | 12 | 143 | 623 | 4.4 | 3 | 14 | 185 | 13.2 | 1 |
1978 | South Carolina | 11 | 176 | 1,006 | 5.7 | 6 | 8 | 41 | 5.1 | 0 |
1979 | South Carolina | 12 | 311 | 1,681 | 5.4 | 8 | 14 | 140 | 10.0 | 1 |
1980 | South Carolina | 11 | 297 | 1,781 | 6.0 | 14 | 7 | 23 | 3.3 | 0 |
Career[6] | 46 | 927 | 5,091 | 5.5 | 31 | 43 | 389 | 9.0 | 2 |
* Includes bowl games.
Professional career
In the
In his
Rogers spent his first four seasons in New Orleans. He played alongside quarterback Archie Manning in 1981 and eventually running back Earl Campbell, who was brought in during the 1984 season.[8]
On April 26, 1985, Rogers was traded to the
Rogers played three more seasons, all for the
Rogers has cited injuries in his playing career as key to why he feels pain on a daily basis, which involves pain to his shoulder, shins, toes, and thumb; Rogers stated in 2009 that he played through concussions.[12]
NFL career statistics
Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
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GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
1981 | NO | 16 | 16 | 378 | 1,674 | 4.4 | 79 | 13 | 16 | 126 | 7.9 | 25 | 0 |
1982 | NO | 6 | 5 | 122 | 535 | 4.4 | 38 | 3 | 4 | 21 | 5.2 | 10 | 0 |
1983 | NO | 13 | 12 | 256 | 1,144 | 4.5 | 76 | 5 | 12 | 69 | 5.8 | 22 | 0 |
1984 | NO | 16 | 16 | 239 | 914 | 3.8 | 28 | 2 | 12 | 76 | 6.3 | 15 | 0 |
1985 | WAS | 15 | 5 | 231 | 1,093 | 4.7 | 35 | 7 | 4 | 29 | 7.3 | 23 | 0 |
1986 | WAS | 15 | 15 | 303 | 1,203 | 4.0 | 42 | 18 | 3 | 24 | 8.0 | 18 | 0 |
1987 | WAS | 11 | 9 | 163 | 613 | 3.8 | 29 | 6 | 4 | 23 | 5.8 | 8 | 0 |
Career[13] | 92 | 78 | 1,692 | 7,176 | 4.2 | 79 | 54 | 55 | 368 | 6.7 | 25 | 0 |
Drug arrests
Following his rookie season with the Saints, Rogers testified to a
Other honors
In 1992, Rogers was named to the All-Century Team at University of South Carolina. He is a member of the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame,
The road that runs along the north end of
On December 14, 2017, Rogers had another road named after him (George Rogers Avenue) in his hometown of Duluth, Georgia.[20]
See also
- List of college football yearly rushing leaders
References
- ^ "Southern Cal star White repeats as All-America". The Pantagraph. December 5, 1979. p. B4.
- ^ "NEA's 1979 All-America football team". The Daily News (Huntingdon, PA). November 27, 1979. p. 4.
- ^ "UPI All-America: Trojans Grab 3 Berths". The Daily News (Huntingdon). December 4, 1979. p. 5.
- ^ a b "George Rogers". South Carolina Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Schechter, Lee (May 23, 2013). "South Carolina Football: Reliving George Rogers' 1980 Heisman Trophy March". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ "George Rogers college statistics". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
- ^ Lowitt, Bruce (January 7, 1982). "Saints' Rogers Named Top Rookie on Offense". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press. p. 27. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ "Campbell gives Saints deluxe backfield". The Free Lance-Star. Associated Press. October 10, 1984. p. 6. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ Brennan, Christine (April 25, 1985). "Redskins Obtain Rogers for No. 1 Pick". Washington Post. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ "'Skins hope hot streak continues". Herald-Journal. Associated Press. November 25, 1986. p. 50. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ Florio, Mike (November 5, 2009). "George Rogers feels the pain of a football career". Profootballtalk.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ "George Rogers feels the pain of a football career". November 5, 2009.
- ^ "George Rogers". football-reference.com. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ "George Rogers bought cocaine -- newspaper reports". United Press International. New Orleans. June 24, 1982. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "Former Heisman winner Rogers surprise catch in drug raid". United Press International. Columbia, South Carolina. April 10, 1990. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "George Washington Rogers, Jr". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ "George Rogers". Saints Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Cloninger, David (June 25, 2015). "Four bronze plaques will grace the George Rogers statue". The State. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ Cloninger, David (August 25, 2015). "Statue will be fitting tribute for George Rogers". The State. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
- ^ Yeomans, Curt (December 14, 2017). "Duluth celebrates hometown Heisman winner George Rogers at new road opening". Gwinnett Daily Post. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
External links
- George Rogers at the College Football Hall of Fame
- George Rogers at Heisman.com
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference