Will Rogers hit the transfer portal just 12 hours after the 2023 edition of the Egg Bowl and he should certainly garner plenty of interest. Rogers, one of the all-time leaders in college football history in both yards and touchdowns, is a veteran leader at the sports most important position and should absolutely hear from a bevy of teams.
Which teams makes the most sense to call upon the veteran leader?
Five Landing Spots for Will Rogers
Rogers currently ranks 39th all-time in yards and 43rd all-time in touchdowns. With over 12,000 career passing yards, teams in need of a veteran presence on their offense will be hard-pressed to find someone better than Rogers in the portal this fall.
These five teams make the most sense, at least right now, to land Rogers’ services.
Georgia Southern Eagles
Typically players for quarterbacks in the portal, the Georgia Southern Eagles could look to college football’s free agency for the third year in a row. After grabbing Kyle Vantrease from Buffalo in 2022 and Davis Brin from Tulsa in 2023, garnering the services of Rogers would be par for the course for Clay Helton and Co.
The Eagles run a different offense than any Rogers has run while at Mississippi State, but he’s certainly shown an ability to hit every level of the field during his time in Starkville. Rogers didn’t get the credit he deserved under the tutelage of Mike Leach, with fans concerned about his accuracy and strength downfield, but he can absolutely make all the throws this Georgia Southern offense would ask of him.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
Likely a long shot given their recruiting ability and current rostering of Behren Morton, but Texas Tech could absolutely look to bring in Rogers and his leadership ability. The Red Raiders have had some significant injury bugs strike their QB room over the past few seasons and Tyler Shough entered the portal just days before Rogers.
Given the similarities in the offensive scheme under offensive coordinator Zach Kittley, Rogers would fit brilliantly in Lubbock. He’d know the offense and could come in as a candidate to start if Joey McGuire and Co. like him enough.
Wisconsin Badgers
Similar to Texas Tech, it’s likely a long shot that Rogers ends up at Wisconsin, but the fit is too obvious not to discuss. Phil Longo runs a version of the Air Raid and Rogers would be a nice addition after Tanner Mordecai has exhausted his eligibility.
The Badgers have gotten enough of a look at Braedyn Locke to understand why he once was a backup to Rogers at Mississippi State himself in 2022. Rogers would be an upgrade and would allow Locke to continue to develop with one of the all-time leaders in passing yards in front of him once again.
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Another in the lineage of the Air Raid, Western Kentucky will be looking for a new signal-caller after Austin Reed’s final year is up in 2023. The Hilltoppers have shown their penchant for throwing it on seemingly every down and pulling in veteran leaders from the portal all the same, making it almost a perfect match to grab Rogers.
With some potential turnover all across their roster in 2024, the Hilltoppers have a need for a veteran leader. Rogers could fill in more than just a signal-caller for this WKU team.
Troy Trojans
Once a target for Troy on the recruiting trail, Rogers’ availability in the portal and Gunnar Watson’s exhausted eligibility make for a great pairing. Troy’s offense uses the run game much more than Rogers may be used to, but his play-action success would be welcomed at Troy.
The Trojans will likely return some talented players across the defense and the offensive line, but need a veteran signal-caller to make it click. Rogers could be an integral piece of their race to the Sun Belt Championship in 2024.