SPORTS

Sam Rogers isn't an endangered species. He's a new one.

Manie Robinson
Sports Columnist

Open the program for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game and peruse the Virginia Tech roster. You may find two letters printed beside Sam Rogers’ name.

Virginia Tech's Sam Rogers is more than your average fullback

FB.

They denote him as a fullback, a position that appears infrequently in print and even less frequently in backfields.

The traditional fullback label invokes images of the 250-pound bruiser plodding with power from the I-formation. He slams into linebackers to clear running lanes. Even in clear, dry weather, he somehow stomps back to the huddle with mud on his jersey. He wears a gash across the bridge of his nose like a badge of valor.

That beloved brute is an endangered species. Merely three of the Top 15 rushing teams in the Division I bowl subdivision officially list a fullback on their rosters.

Rogers proudly embraces the label, but he considers himself an evolved version of that species, an adaptation to offensive advancement that cannot be limited by two letters.

“There's times I’ve lined up as an H-back. There's times I’ve lined up in the slot. I’ve lined up out wide. I’ve lined up as the lone running back. I’ve lined up as the fullback,” Rogers said. “They have to put something down. I guess that’s just the two letters they put there.”

According to Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, Rogers is not the last of a dying breed. He is a fusion of the future.

“The days of just guys getting in the I-formation and here's the fullback and they're going to run the power play and then run the toss 10 times, you don't see that as much,” Swinney said. “There's still need for that for sure, but a lot of teams have gone to a little bit more of the hybrid tight end guys that can do those same things but can also be on the line, are athletic enough to split out and create some matchups in the passing game.”

Rogers has averaged 4.4 yards through 61 carries this season. He rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns last week against Virginia. He has caught 19 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. He even tossed a touchdown pass and returned a kick.

But FB/RB/TE/WR/QB/KR is a little bit too much to print.

"Everybody likes getting the ball. I feel confident in myself to make plays with the ball," Rogers said. "That’s always fun, but there's nothing better than pancaking a guy blocking. I like when I can run down on special teams and make a tackle. So, honestly, I enjoy every part of football. Anything I can do, it's a lot of fun."

Rogers displayed his ability to manage multiple roles at Hanover High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia. He intrigued then-Hokies coach Frank Beamer.

“My senior year, I played quarterback, linebacker, running back, punt returner, wide receiver, played everywhere. That's where I started realizing, 'Man, I like to be able to do a lot of things,” Rogers said. “When Coach Beamer was recruiting me, he said that's the reason he wanted me to be a fullback there, because the fullback was going to have to do a lot of different things.”

Rogers joined Virginia Tech as a preferred walk-on and started as a freshman. He has appeared in every game since. He has been a handful in the hole and even tougher to handle in space.

“He's one of my favorite football players I've watched all season,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “Really good instinctual runner. He's got great quickness and explosiveness. Tough guy and great hands. You've got to wrap that dude up. You've got to hit him early.

“He's got a big personality that plays very loud.”

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