Inside The Huskies

UW Deep In the Mix For Mississippi State QB Will Rogers

The Huskies appear to be targeting the former SEC quarterback in the transfer portal.

Roman Tomashoff

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The Washington Huskies, in maintaining a pipeline to SEC talent in the transfer portal, are considered a strong contender to land the services of former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers, according to multiple sources.

Rogers, who announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal following the Bulldogs' loss to Mississippi in the Egg Bowl, could follow his former teammate Dillon Johnson to Seattle, where the one-time Bulldogs running back has enjoyed marked success in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's scheme.

Johnson has rushed for 1,113 yards and 14 touchdowns after transferring to Washington last winter, and Rogers would be looking for similar production as a passer under coach Kalen DeBoer and Grubb's direction.

Ranked as the 23rd overall prospect in the transfer portal according to 247 Sports, Rogers brings plenty of experience from the SEC with 40 career starts, along with some big offensive numbers.

Over his four years at Mississippi State and initially under the late coach Mike Leach, Rogers developed into a top-tier passer. His 12,315 passing yards are the second most in SEC history, while his 94 career touchdown passes are good for fourth most in the conference record book.

If he were to commit to the UW, Rogers would almost certainly be the favorite to win the job even though he'll be facing a lot of competition.

The Huskies project to have four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster for 2024 before any additions in the transfer portal, and they include former starter Dylan Morris, who opened 15 games in 2020 and 2021; former 4-star recruit Austin Mack, who reclassified to join the class of 2023; Will Haskell, a San Diego State transfer; and, providing he signs as expected, recruit Dermaricus Davis. 

Morris has discussed at length with the media his plans to someday join the Washington coaching staff as a graduate assistant and he could potentially forgo his final year of eligibility to do so, which would free up room for Rogers. 

Either way, the Huskies will have a full quarterback room, but adding Rogers brings an added level of experience to the position. He would also be a fit for DeBoer's offense thanks to his arm talent and ability to deliver the ball quickly and accurately.

Even though Rogers has two years of eligibility remaining because of COVID-19 pandemic extensions, he will probably will utilize just one of those seasons before declaring for the NFL draft. 

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Roman Tomashoff
ROMAN TOMASHOFF

I've followed the Huskies for my entire life, and to be in a position where I get to cover them full-time is nothing short of an honor. After graduating from Lasell University in 2019, I moved to Seattle to pursue my dream of working in sports media. While writing for the Husky Haul, I also covered local sports for the Everett Daily Herald before the COVID-19 pandemic. After being hired by Realdawg.com in February of 2021, I also transitioned into doing a lot of entertainment writing, as I work on a variety of magazines as a contributing writer for Centennial Media, and have also contributed to Emmy Magazine, as well as Walt Disney Television Studios. 

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