Post by DiamondThief on Jul 1, 2014 20:05:54 GMT -8
The Portland Thunder's leading receiver, Eric Rogers, has signed with the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders, it was announced. This effectively ends his season with the Thunder.
Rogers, who didn't see active competition until the Thunder's seventh game, exploded on the scene in the team's win over the Tampa Bay Storm. He collected 7 passes for 110 yards and 5 touchdowns in the contest, which was the second win in Portland franchise history (61-42). The 5 touchdowns is still a season (and, of course, franchise high).
"He'll be up there and is basically done here," Coach Matthew Sauk said Tuesday night on Talking Thunder (750 The Game, the Thunder's weekly radio show). Right how our three guys are Jamar (Howard), Braylon (Bell) and Jeffrey (Solomon), so we're kind of low at the wideout at WR all of the sudden, but it's just one of those things that happens."
Sauk also noted that wide receiver Douglas McNeil, III is about " a week out" from coming back and another wide receiver, Duane Brooks, who leads the team in kickoff returns, is at about 70 percent.
Rogers registered 73 catches for 903 yards and 27 touchdowns in just eight games. All numbers lead the Thunder for the season. Rogers was a key component in three Thunder wins over the span of those eight games.
While at California Lutheran University, Rogers collected 220 passes for 3,461 yards and 41 touchdowns over his four-year career. His 91 catches for 1,298 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior earned him first-team All-American honors, and he was named Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the year.
The Calgary Stampeders are 1-0 on the young season, coming off of a 29-8 win over the Montreal Alouettes on June 28. Their next test a road battle against the Toronto Argonauts on July 12. The Stampeders compete in the CFL's Western Division.
Check out the Interview with WR Eric Rogers on OregonSportsNews.com from May 30. Follow Rogers' progress with Calgary on twitter: ericdionrogers.
- ANM
Note: Sauk also announced on Talking Thunder that QB Darron Thomas will not dress for the July 5 game at Cleveland against the Gladiators. It is expected that Danny Southwick will be called in to act as backup to Kyle Rowley.
