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University of Minnesota Athletics
Rogers Has Never Lost His Smile
9/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
The smile has never left Ace Rogers face. Although nobody would blame him if it did.
Rogers, a senior defensive back from Iowa City, Iowa, is in his third school in five years. He committed to Iowa State out of high school and spent two seasons there before heading to Iowa Western Community College for the 2014 season. In his one season at Iowa Western, he made 73 tackles, broke up four passes and had two interceptions as he was named NJCAA First-Team All-American and All-Midwest Football Conference First Team selection.
With accolades and a renewed confidence under his belt, Rogers headed north to Minnesota to play for now-defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel and the Golden Gophers. Rogers knew the Gopher staff from his high school recruitment and that familiarity is one reason why he dons the Maroon and Gold today.
"I love Minnesota and Coach Sawvel is probably the best defensive back coach in the country," said Rogers, fondly recalling why he became a Gopher. "I'm grateful to be here right now."
Rogers is here right now, but he's not playing. It's not because of a lack of talent, far from it actually. It's because he's injured and physically cannot play. It's been an unwelcome theme surrounding Rogers during his time at Minnesota. One that he never expected.
"I've never had a serious injury playing football," said Rogers, who will miss the 13th game of his Minnesota career today against Colorado State.
Rogers burst onto the Minnesota scene in the 2015 season-opener against TCU. He recorded six tackles, including one for a loss. He them missed the next two games with an injury before returning to play against Ohio.
It was against the Bobcats where he made his biggest impact as a Gopher. There were 30 seconds left in the game and Minnesota had just scored to go up 27-24 on Homecoming. However, a 56-yard kickoff return by Ohio put them in line for a Hail Mary. On fourth down, Ohio quarterback Derrius Vick launched a pass from the Minnesota 41-yard line. It sailed into the end zone where a group of Gophers and Bobcats waited. It was Rogers who soared above the rest and batted the ball out of the air to preserve the Minnesota win.
"Coach Sawvel got me ready for that," said a smiling Rogers. "He made me into the best player that I've been in college. I was at the right place at the right time."
Rogers made three tackles at Northwestern a week later, but that is the last time he has suited up for Minnesota. He tore his ACL and had to miss the rest of the season.
Instead of worrying about opposing offenses, he was now focused on how he would recover. He immediately solicited the advice of former teammate and defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun, who had suffered an ACL injury at the start of the 2013 season. Rogers wanted to know about how to come back from the injury from a physical and mental standpoint.
"I've never had a major surgery, and I wasn't sure how I would respond," said Rogers. "I had to struggle through my own mind. Briean, my family and my roommates helped keep me mentally straight."
One of those roommates was linebacker Everett Williams.
"You tell him everything is going to be ok and try to help him with patience," said Williams. "It's a rough thing to go through because it's a game that we love and it was taken away. We just tried to show him the positive things going on."
Rogers rehabbed and was running full-speed during the spring. He was looking forward to coming back and competing for playing time this season. Then he suffered another knee injury. This one is less serious - and not related to his previous injury - but it has kept him off the playing field.
Rogers can't play right now, but that hasn't stopped him from being a great teammate. He is a veteran player in a young defensive back room and knows when to lighten the mood for the group or when to encourage them.
"I've always been a good teammate," said Rogers. "You can always see me on the sidelines celebrating. I'm passionate about the game."
"He's remained positive," said Sawvel. "In particular, helping guys, cheering them on, trying to stay into it with them and doing his part to still bring energy to the group."
Rogers is hoping to bring that energy back onto the field soon. He is rehabbing and waiting for his knee to heal and is looking forward to playing again.
"Once I get back, Gopher fans will get everything from me that I have," he said.
Now that's reason to smile.
