Da' Rick Rogers = DA UGA FREAK

Future UGA wideout, Da'Rick Rogers, was recently bumped up to a five star on both rivals.com and scouts.com. No matter what the QB situation is in Athens next year, the passing game should be bright with A.J. Green and Calhoun native Da'Rick Rogers giving defensive coordinators headaches. Here is a Q&A Chip Towers had with the future Dawg.


Q: I saw you got a fifth star from both Scout.com and Rivals.com a couple of weeks ago. That a big deal to you?

A: “Yeah, it’s kind of a big deal. Just shows I’ve been working hard. It kind of makes you want to work even harder. The harder you work the better the tributes are, I guess. There’s only like five or six [five-star prospects at wide receiver] this year, so it feels good to be one.”

Q: Yeah, but there’s some pressure that comes with that, too, isn’t there?

A: “I just try to take it all in and relax about it and brush the pressure away. I try to take it as motivation to just keep doing the right things. Coach is always telling me, do the right things and good things will happen to you. So I’ll just continue to do that.”

Q: So you’ve been committed to Georgia since June, but word is other teams are still coming after you. Who’s still pursuing you?

A: “Tennessee, USC and Florida. But I’m rock solid with Georgia.”

Q: What are some things they’re doing to try to get your attention?

A: “Hand-writing letters, coming to see me at lot, Facebook, MySpace, any means of communication they can find. They call my mom, they call the coaches, they call me. I try to avoid all recruiting but sometimes you can’t, so you have to talk to them. I’ll talk to them and tell them I’m locked into UGA. But they don’t care. They’ll still talk to you anyway.”

Q: Georgia’s obviously having a tough year, 4-4 so far. Do rival recruiters say anything about that?

A: “Oh yeah, they bring it up. But the way I see it is everybody has a down year. And it’s not really a down year. They’re just in a little slump. And from what I’ve seen the recruiting class coming in with me this year is going to help out a ton, especially on the defensive side where I feel like we’re lacking the most. Georgia’s going to be fine.”

Q: Since we’re on that subject, can you revisit your reasoning for choosing the Bulldogs?

A: “Mainly it was the coaches. I really couldn’t go wrong with the schools I was considering. So it really came down to personalities and getting to know the coaches and how the coaches approached me. Georgia really went way past football with me. They talked a lot about academics, about life. They came down here a lot, talked to my mother a lot. Really I just felt good about the coaches.”

Q: There’s a lot of scuttlebutt going around that you have some academic issues. Is that true?

A: “It’s something I’ve already got a handle on. I worked all summer; I’ve worked all fall. I’ve got all A’s and B’s right now. Last year I just wasn’t really focused. I just kind of goofed off. Your junior year is probably the last times you need to goof off and I goofed off most of the year. I was kind of on the borderline with B’s and some C’s. This year I’ve had to focus and get everything straight and right now I have all A’s and B’s. I just need to stay ahead of the pack now.”

Q: Talk about your relationship with Nash Nance.

A: “We first met over at Darlington. We’re pretty much like brothers, black and white brothers. I’m over there at his house all the time, hanging out, spending the night. I love him.”

Q: It looks like y’all have a lot of good players on offense, not just you and Nash.

A: “[Junior wide receiver] J. T. Palmer is a great player; he plays on the other side. We have a whole new line this year and they’ve done a great job. But mainly Dustin Christian. I feel like he’s one of the best junior backs in the state. Underrated. He’s kind of small but he’s thick up top and quick as a cat and hard to tackle. I don’t know what to say about him but he has just done some amazing things.”

Q: You guys are rolling, 9-0 heading into Friday’s game against Armuchee. What’s the feeling heading toward the playoffs?

A: “We’re getting better each and every week. Everything’s getting a little more up-tempo now. Last year we got better every game until the end of the season and I thing we’re on the same track. As long as we keep getting better we’re going to be hard to beat.”