Tag: Eric Rogers

Transfer portal addition Eric Rogers is settling in on the Rutgers defense

Rutgers is seeing some solid play this year from defensive back Eric Rogers.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — For Rutgers football, the addition of Eric Rogers to the secondary has been seen not just in the player’s production but also in his versatility.

Rogers, a transfer portal addition from Northern Illinois, has 13 total tackles on the year and four passes defended. On Monday, head coach Greg Schiano talked about the importance of Rutgers and what he has added to the backend.

A junior defensive back, Rogers has been a versatile and varied piece for Schiano and the defense.

“Eric has been a real nice addition. Of I think it’s a perfect situation for him. Transferring over from Northern Illinois, doesn’t have to come in and be the guy, but comes in and is a guy,” Schiano said.

“He’s playing – he’s in sub-packages. But Beam (Robert Longerbeam) and Max (Melton) were the first two guys, and then he kind of works in a rotation with them on normal downs. Kind of bop them around in sub-packages and I think he’s done a good job. Eventually, he’s going to have to elevate to the next step and I think he’s showing signs that he can. So yeah, we are pleased that Eric’s decided to join us.”

 

He has registered a pass breakup in three of his last four games for Rutgers.

[lawrence-related id=32068,32057]

Last week, Rogers told Rutgers Wire about his decision to return home and play in New Jersey. His roots are in Camden.

“Absolutely – who wouldn’t want to play for their own state?” Rogers told Rutgers Wire.

“Also had guys that I’m really close with that came here a few years ago, he went to high school with me. He was a wide receiver, Everett Wormley. So to be able to play for your home school, everybody wants to do it. So I’m glad I made it happen.

“I talk to my former teammates at NIU every day 0 like it’s really two different lifestyles we live like, completely different. That’s why I say I never take any of this for granted. I’m really blessed to be able to do what I’m doing here.”

Coming home has been special for Eric Rogers: ‘Who wouldn’t want to play for their own state?’

Eric Rogers talks about why he is settling in as part of the Rutgers secondary.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — There is a confidence to Eric Rogers that is noticeable from the get-go, the Rutgers football defensive back having integrated himself quite well into the defense. Rogers has seen some significant snaps the past few weeks as the transfer portal addition has proven himself to be a reliable player in a strong Rutgers secondary.

A junior, Rogers has been a nice addition to a deep and talented secondary at Rutgers. On Saturday against No. 1 Ohio State, he had a tackle and a pass defended.

He now has a pass defended in three straight games. On the season, he has 12 total tackles and four passes defended. Rogers will be counted on heavily when he and his teammates take on No. 22 Iowa (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten).

Out of Burlington Township High School (Burlington, New Jersey), Rogers was recruited by Rutgers but wasn’t offered a scholarship. He was ranked a three-star recruit by Rivals.

He spent the last two years at Northern Illinois University before transferring this offseason. The program that didn’t offer him out of high school welcomed his addition to an already strong defense.

“Absolutely – who wouldn’t want to play for their own state?” Rogers told Rutgers Wire.

“Also had guys that I’m really close with that came here a few years ago, he went to high school with me. He was a wide receiver, Everett Wormley. So to be able to play for your home school, everybody wants to do it. So I’m glad I made it happen.

“I talk to my former teammates at NIU every day 0 like it’s really two different lifestyles we live like, completely different. That’s why I say I never take any of this for granted. I’m really blessed to be able to do what I’m doing here.”

Rogers has an infectious personality but one that comes across as genuine and sincere. There is an energy to him, even when he is sitting, that is clearly evident.

[lawrence-related id=31899,31409]

As he sits during his interview, he leans forward. His hands are clasped together. They move in unison as he talks.

Being closer to home works both ways, he says. Not only is his family easily able to watch his football games, but he is also able to hit home regularly.

[lawrence-related id=31892,31879]

It was a selling point in coming to Rutgers.

“That’s kind of the biggest thing for me being able to see my family after the games,” Rogers said.

“I had my brothers out at the game, watching my little brother in high school, just being able to be closer to him and watch him grow up. It’s a really cool experience.”

Watch: Eric Rogers takes a Shaquan Loyal block for a Rutgers touchdown

Eric Rogers gave Rutgers a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.

Rutgers football got a lead early in the second quarter when Shaquan Loyal blocked an Indiana punt. Defensive back Eric Rogers took the ball mid-air and ran it in for a touchdown.

The play was the second time in as many weeks that Rutgers has gotten a big play on special teams. Last week, Aaron Young blocked a punt and ran it in for a touchdown in a 27-24 comeback win over Michigan State.

This week, Rogers made a big play as Rutgers squeaked out to a 17-14 halftime lead. The special teams play was very much needed as the Rutgers offense was cold in the first half.

They had 143 yards of total offense and 11 first downs in the first half but had just 31 passing yards.

 

Rogers joined Rutgers out of the transfer portal from Northern Illinois. In 2022, Rogers had 18 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended.

[lawrence-related id=31358,31356]

The offense’s only touchdown came in the first quarter off a Gavin Wimsatt one-yard run on the game’s opening drive.

Kyle Monangai had 53 rushing yards in the first half.

From the transfer portal, Eric Rogers is making strides for Rutgers fooball

Greg Schiano speaks to the impact of Eric Rogers on the Rutgers football secondary.

Eric Rogers has the potential to be an impact player for the Rutgers secondary this season. An addition out of the transfer portal, Rogers certainly has a skill set that projects well to the Big Ten.

The defensive back has good length at 6-foot-2, covers well and is a strong tackler. Coming out of the portal, Rogers was offered by Arkansas.

Last season, Rogers had 18 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended. Against Vanderbilt, he had two tackles and a pass defended. As a redshirt freshman in 2021, he had strong showings against then No. 25 Michigan (four tackles) and at Georgia Tech (seven tackles and a fumble recovery).

Asked about Rogers on Thursday, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano spoke to the impact of his transfer portal defensive back.

“Eric’s a very good player. Very impressed with his work ethic, his attention to detail,” Schiano told reporters on Thursday. “Eric’s going to help us in a big way.”

Coming out of Burlington Township High School (Burlington, N.J.), Rogers wasn’t offered by Rutgers. He counted his sole Power Five offer from North Carolina.

He was ranked the No. 24 player in New Jersey by Rivals.

With Rutgers, Rogers joins a talented defensive backend that includes Max Melton and Robert Longerbeam at defensive back. Fellow transfer portal addition Flip Dixon, a safety, has been praised by Schiano several times this offseason.

[lawrence-related id=29416,29403]

Greg Schiano likes his secondary and new addition Flip Dixon

Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano sees strength in his defense.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — One of the assumed strengths of the Rutgers football team this season is their secondary. The expectation is that this group has the right mix of returning players, incoming veterans and young players for the long grind that is the Big Ten season.

The secondary, which showed flashes last year, might be the deepest unit on the roster.

This can especially be the case provided that the safety additions in the transfer portal ([autotag]Flip Dixon[/autotag] and [autotag]Eric Rogers[/autotag]) pan out. Rogers, who played last year at Northern Illinois, has proven he has the potential to play at the Power Five level.

Dixon, coming from Minnesota, has shown that throughout his career.

“Flip Dixon has really shown me that he’s a Big Ten safety. And you know our deal is we’re a five defensive back scheme as long as people are playing with sub personnel three wideouts…four wideouts.You can call it a 4-2-5, whatever you want to call it. I just call it five defensive backs on the field,” Schiano said on Thursday.

“And so that’s the trick – finding the right mix of the best five and then having the subs to come in and outside corners. Inside nickels, inside stars. There’s different jobs that go along with that. So but coach Harasymiak (defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak) – he does a really good job of personnel and things. Very impressed (with) the way they do that and Drew Lascari who coaches our safeties, he’s doing a really good job because those guys are kind of they move up and back.

“And coach Orphey (cornerbacks coach Mark Orphey) is a pro coaching those corners. So we have talent in the secondary and I think we have really, really fine coaching so we have a chance that could be a part of our strength but I think really I like all three levels of our defense. We just got to get reps and get precise in what we’re doing and then just play as hard as we can. And that’s what I expect from them,”

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Last season, Rutgers was eighth in the Big Ten allowing 349.8 yards per game. With the returning talent on the roster, there is every reason to believe that the Scarlet Knights have the personnel to be a top-half of the conference defense in 2023.

[lawrence-related id=28949,28946]

Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano believes Eric Rogers, Flip Dixon will boost the defense

Greg Schiano sees two transfer portal additions as helping his defense.

Rutgers football has certainly seen both its quality and overall depth improve on the defensive side of the ball over the past three years. The secondary, in particular, is an area that head coach Greg Schiano is particularly pleased to see the overarching growth and development.

Headlined by returning players such as cornerbacks[autotag] Robert Longerbeam[/autotag] and [autotag]Max Melton[/autotag], the secondary might be the strongest unit on the entire Rutgers roster. But for Schiano, the additions on the backend also include two players brought in from the transfer portal.

These additions, Schiano said, help balance the secondary and bring some veteran experience. In an interview with NBC Sports Chicago, Schiano outlined his secondary, including the importance of adding Rogers and Dixon to the group.

“I think we got a good group with Melton and Longerbeam back at the corners. But we added a guy Eric Rogers, who came over from Northern Illinois, I think he’s going to be a great, great addition,” Schiano told NBC Sports Chicago.

“You mentioned Flip Dixon and you know, he’s a guy that I I think is a Big Ten safety. That’s what he is, and he’s going to be a great, great player for us coming in from the University of Minnesota. So I like our secondary I think we have some experience mixed with some real fine young players. And again, I think at all three levels of the defense, we have some depth, which is critical. It’s a tough league. It’s a league of big men, people get hurt. So to have a little depth is certainly helpful.”

The addition of Dixon to the roster was an under-the-radar part of the Rutgers offseason, but with 30 games of Big Ten experience (and six starts), Dixon can certainly add something to the Rutgers unit.

Last season at Minnesota, he posted 28 tackles and three passes defended, both career-highs. 

[lawrence-related id=28605,28618]