“Go hard and be humble”
Tyshon Rogers initially thought that mantra was going to serve him well as he pursued an opportunity to play baseball in college.
But something came over Rogers once he started hitting people on the football field. While he still loves baseball and likely will play third base for the Panthers this season, Rogers’ approach has earned him a chance to play football in college.
On Wednesday morning, Rogers realized that dream when he signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Coahoma Community College in Clarksdale.
“It feels so great,” Rogers said. “Everyone doesn’t have this opportunity. It has paid off, calling coaches, sending my film off to let my talent get seen. I get to go to college and play a sport I love. It is really great.”
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound outside linebacker/free safety played football for five years at West Lowndes High. This past season, he had 52 solo tackles (88 total, second on team), one sack, five interceptions, four fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles for the Panthers, who finished 5-6. He also had 21 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown and 10 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown as a running back and as a wide receiver, respectively.
Rogers, who also plays basketball and soccer at the school, said Coahoma C.C. coaches saw his highlights on Hudl.com, a video service used by football teams and other sports to help analyze games and prepare scouting reports. He said he visited the campus last week and talked with the coaches leading up to National Signing Day.
“The coaches are trying to turn the program around,” Rogers said. “They have a new facility, a new field, new uniforms. They’re trying to get a lot of recruits in to get a lot of wins for the upcoming season.”
Coahoma C.C. went 0-9 and 0-6 in the MACJC North Division this past season.
West Lowndes coach Anthony King said Rogers gave the Panthers “everything he had” this past season. He attributes his strong play to hard work in the offseason. He said he sensed Rogers realized he had a chance to make an impression his senior year and he took advantage of it.
“He always said he wanted to get signed,” King said. “I am proud of the fact that he signed today because he worked hard to get there.”
King said he talked with defensive coordinator Daniel Merchant about moving Rogers to safety after he had a strong offseason in seven-on-seven camps. While Rogers isn’t the typical size of a college linebacker, King said Rogers has the right mind-set and attitude to succeed in college.
“He loves to hit,” King said. “When I was talking to the college coaches, I told them he is downhill safety who will come up and hit, which is pretty rare. He is a hard worker. If he continues to work hard and learns the defense, good things could happen for him.”
It sounds simple, but Rogers said his work ethic on and off the field and his ability to be coachable helped him get noticed. He said he has seen playing time at running back, wide receiver, and tight end, but he said he prefers to play defense. He said he knew right away after he made his first tackle that defense was where he was meant to be. It didn’t take long, but he fell in love with Coahoma C.C. and hopes to bring that love for defense there and make a contribution.
“I am going to college, and I know it is going to be bigger and better,” Rogers said, “so I have to get into the weight room and get even bigger and stronger and play even harder. I have to do what the coaches ask me to do, do my part, and get my grades. I am going to give 110 percent in football, too.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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