Several big-time prospects have come out of Oak Park High in Oak Park, Mich., in recent years, most notably offensive tackle Ja’Raymond Hall, who signed with the Wolverines in last year’s recruiting class.
The No. 2 player in the state of Michigan in 2017, four-star offensive guard Marquan McCall, also happens to reside at Oak Park High.
However, the Knights also have a rising sophomore who impressed at one of Michigan’s recent camps in offensive tackle Justin Rogers.
Rogers does not have an offer from the Wolverines yet, but did say the coaches had a message for him nonetheless.
“They said just keep working hard and it’ll pay off for you,” he explained. “And to compete hard. Don’t give up and go 100 miles per hour. Off the field, it’s to study books and to push yourself to the limit with studying. And to just do good in school.”
Rogers also said one of the things he likes about the Michigan coaches – specifically Jim Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Tim Drevno and offensive line coach Greg Frey – is the way they provide life lessons not only in football, but away from it as well.
“They just give you a whole lot of knowledge in life,” Rogers said. “Both on the field and off the field.”
Although the aforementioned Hall is three years older than Rogers, Rogers explained that the two still keep in contact, and that Hall has told him plenty about how demanding the coaches are at Michigan.
“We still communicate on the phone,” the rising sophomore revealed. “He’s been telling me they push you to the limit up here, and you better be ready to work, and you can’t lag behind.”
Hall isn’t the only one who has been in Rogers’ ear though. McCall, who recently committed to Kentucky, has also been telling the young lineman that Lexington is the place to be.
“He’s been saying he wants me to come with him,” Rogers said with a laugh. “But he realizes it’s my decision, and he just wants me to make a decision that I’m comfortable with.”
In fact, Rogers said he plans on attending a camp at Kentucky in the near future to check out the Wildcats.
Of his 11 offers, the 6-2, 289-pounder said Kentucky is one of the schools showing him the most love so far.
“I’d say Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Temple, Iowa State and Toledo are as well,” he revealed.
Will Rogers follow in the footsteps of his former teammate, Hall, to Michigan, or perhaps tag along with McCall to Kentucky?
Perhaps he’ll carve his own path, but regardless of what he decides to do, he has several years to make a decision.
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