PLAYER OF THE WEEK -The ones to watch: Anthony Rogers

By Jennifer Godwin

North Little Rock's Anthony Rogers plans to make up for lost time. The defensive end played just five games last season because of a broken hand. Still, his stats in those games were impressive enough to garner the attention of several colleges, including Mississippi State, where he has orally committed.

Rogers is back for his senior year, and can't wait to play against such teams as Cabot, Central, Catholic and Texarkana.

Anthony Rogers

First up is Texarkana at home, which is the game Rogers is most eager to stamp with a "W."

"The last three years, we've lost to them," he said.

Besides that, Rogers is amped to play Cabot, a team that blitzes a lot. That happens to be one of his favorite plays.

Anthony Rogers

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Rogers began playing football when he was 7. He dropped it for a few years, and then started back up in junior high.

In fact, it's a junior high game that has had a lasting impression on him.

"It was in eighth grade, against Cabot, and I wasn't playing so good," Rogers said, adding that his coach pulled him to the sidelines and threatened to bench him.

That was motivation enough for Rogers.

"The next play, I sent them 10, 12 yards back," he said.

Never underestimate what Rogers can do when he puts his mind to it. When on the field, he's determined. It's executing the play and nothing else that's on his mind.

This year, Rogers is mixing it up on the field, with head Coach Brad Bolding putting him at defensive tackle and defensive end.

Rogers likes everything about his coaches. He said they will hear players out and will change something if a player makes a strong enough argument.