Mike Leach compares Will Rogers to past Air Raid greats at quarterback

Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach is one of the greatest passing coaches the game of football has ever seen. He learned the Air Raid attack from Hal Mumme when he was an assistant at Kentucky in the early 1990s. Few coaches have revolutionized the passing game quite like Leach has the past few decades in college football. In the SEC coaches teleconference this week, Leach spoke about his sophomore quarterback Will Rogers and how he compares to other greats in his scheme like B.J. Symons, Sonny Cumbie, and Gardner Minshew.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s ahead of schedule from that standpoint. Most of those guys didn’t even play at this point because Will’s only a true sophomore. He’s definitely ahead from that, as far as what point he’s out there throwing for a bunch of yards. Because most of those guys weren’t playing as sophomores.”

Thus far in 2021, Rogers has taken the college football world by storm, completing 437 of his 538 pass attempts for 3,722 passing yards, while tossing 29 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

Through 10 games, Rogers is currently third in the nation in passing yards per game with 372.4. And he’s doing that as a true sophomore. Not only that, he’s completed over 75 percent of his passes while playing in the SEC, which is incredibly rare.

If there’s one thing Mike Leach has known over the years it’s how to find a quarterback that fits in well with his system and scheme. Rogers was only a three-star prospect coming out of Brandon High School in Brandon, Mississippi. As a junior in high school, he led all MHSAA Class 6A quarterbacks with 3,009 passing yards. As a senior, he threw for 3,572 passing yards, while tossing 38 touchdowns to just three interceptions.

Mississippi State vs. Auburn

Rogers is fresh off the biggest comeback in Mississippi State football history. The Auburn Tigers were ahead 28-3 with 6:10 remaining in the 2nd quarter, and then Will Rogers stunned Jordan-Hare Stadium with the show of a lifetime. He completed 44 of his 55 pass attempts (80 percent) for 415 passing yards, while tossing in six touchdowns and no interceptions.

Not only was the comeback the largest in Bulldog history, but Rogers also set the school record for the most touchdown passes in a single game.

Mississippi State's 43-34 win over Auburn was the biggest comeback in program history (trailed by 25 points).

Will Rogers finished with 6 Pass TD, setting a new school record for the most in a single game. pic.twitter.com/CEMOFCZwpJ

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 13, 2021

Rogers has been an air-assaulting assassin with the pigskin all season long. He’s already beginning to pepper his name all over the record books in Starkville and his career is very young.

It’s safe to say the next legend in the Mike Leach Air Raid attack has arrived. He’s just getting warmed up.

Mississippi State faces Tennessee State this Saturday before finishing their regular season with the Ole Miss Rebels on Nov. 25.