Joel Rogers opens up on staying home at LSU

West Feliciana High safety Joel Rogers had his pick of some of the nation’s best college football programs, and on Monday evening, he revealed he was staying home to play for LSU.

With five hats on the table, Rogers chose the Tigers over Texas, Alabama, TCU and Tennessee.

“It checked all the boxes for me,” Rogers said. “I felt like a little kid waiting to open Christmas presents.”

Rogers follows his dream to play for the Tigers

When offers rolled in from double-digit programs this offseason, Rogers knew his decision would take plenty of thought and research.

As he geared up for a June official visit stretch that included LSU, Alabama and TCU, Rogers pivoted.

Instead, he chose to make an unofficial visit to LSU, then wipe the slate clean and cancel his remaining official visits. From there, he set up a decision date and revealed his choice.

“I grew up in The Boot. They are recruiting the best of the class from (Louisiana). Why not be a part of it?,” Rogers said of LSU’s pitch.

With a commitment from Rogers, LSU now holds commitments from six of the state’s Top 10 prospects on the On3 rankings.

That group includes a number of his close friends, from fellow St. Francisville standout Trey’Dez Green to fellow four-star safety Dashawn McBryde – who were just a couple of the current commitments who were pushing for Rogers to join the class.

“A lot of us play on the same 7-on-7 team, so all of us playing together at the next level would be an incredible thing,” Rogers said. “(Dashawn McBryde) plays on my 7-on-7 team, we play safety together. Trey’Dez told me a while ago that I know what the right move is. It’s finally good to announce it.”

Now, Rogers hopes to continue to build LSU’s 2024 class with even more pieces from around the state.

“I believe we grow up differently in The Boot,” he said. “That chip on our shoulder, and learning to play with it. That’s something we need to give back to (Louisiana).”

With his parents by his side, Rogers announces his LSU decision

During Monday’s announcement from West Feliciana, Rogers was joined on stage by his parents, family and coaches, a moment he said was a fitting end to a recruiting process that resulted in him choosing to play college football just 30 miles down the road in Tiger Stadium.

“I sat on it for a while, then I finally told (my parents),” Rogers said. “They asked me if I was sure about the decision I’m making. They didn’t force me to go any specific place. They said they would support wherever I went.

“It’s a feeling like no other. I could have said I was going to any college in the country and my parents would have been there with the shirts, hats and colors.

“(My mom) was really proud. They would have went anywhere in the country, wherever I went. She was excited to see that I was happy. It meant a lot to me.”

Rogers following in the footsteps of LSU greats before him

For LSU’s latest commitment, growing up in South Louisiana meant tracking the Tigers – and his favorite defensive back to suit up in purple-and-gold.

“Tyrann Mathieu is my favorite player growing up,” he said. “It’s why I turned on the TV. A lot of kids from Louisiana grew up watching LSU football, but actually being able to play there is surreal.”

With a 4.0 GPA, Rogers is not just a standout multi-sport athlete at WHS, but also a shining star in the classroom.

And with a four-star ranking as the No. 4 prospect in Louisiana, the rising senior had a message for college recruits who will later travel down the same road.

“Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do,” he said. “Work for whatever you want, no matter how unachievable you might think it is or someone might tell you it is. Always work for what you want, and don’t stop until you get it.”

Rogers sees LSU trending in the right direction under Kelly and Co.

After back-to-back .500 finishes to the regular season in both 2020 and 2021, LSU first-year head coach Brian Kelly not only got the Tigers to 10 wins in 2022, but also helped guide the program to an SEC West Championship.

For Rogers, the instant turnaround jumped off the page.

“It’s a surreal feeling. They had a really good recruiting class when Coach Kelly came in, and he’s building another one this year. To come in and (win the SEC West) in the first year is unheard of, and it’s only projecting upward,” he said.

“I love defense. The way (LSU defensive coordinator Matt House) teaches it and the way he talks ball, everything about him as a coach goes hand-in-hand with how I play. Me and him go together as a coach and player.”

Thanks to time spent playing both quarterback and defensive back in high school, Rogers is confident his knowledge of both sides of the football will carry over to the college level when he suits up at safety for the Tigers.

“Understanding what defenses are looking for to beat offenses and stop offenses. I learned it from the offensive standpoint, so I know what I’m looking at,” he said. “And learning that, I know based on what coverages they are in, what I’m trying to beat that with. So when I go on defense, I know what offenses are trying to beat us with.”

As for his commitment to LSU, Rogers said his recruiting process is officially closed as he focuses on his final year at WHS before enrolling in Baton Rouge.

“The atmosphere is unmatched. LSU feels like home,” he said. “Death Valley, I have never felt anything like it. It’s a great school, I will be able to get a degree from there, and my parents being close, it just adds more on top of it.”