Illinois Football: Illini invest in class of 2019 OT William Rogers

Building the offensive line is important and that is why the Illinois football team offered Williams Rogers a scholarship on Thursday.

Rogers is a 6-foot-4, 295-pound offensive tackle from Lovejoy High School in Hampton, Georgia. He isn’t rated or ranked by the recruiting sites, but he does have a lot of scholarship offers to his name already. Some of the bigger programs to offer him, besides for Illinois, include West Virginia, Missouri, Boston College and Cincinnati.

I am curious about why Rogers isn’t rated or ranked right now by the recruiting sites. When I watch what he can do on the football field, I see a raw player who has the potential to do some special things in the future. He isn’t a starter year one but more of a stash away player for a few years – one being a redshirt season – and then honing his craft to be one of the best linemen in the Big Ten.

The reason I don’t specify what type of lineman – offensive or defensive – is that I think he could play both and may be suited best for the defensive side of the ball.

On what seems like every play, Rogers looks to hit someone. He seems like a player who you tell to run through a brick wall and he will do it. Honestly, I really like him on the defensive line. He would fit well as a defensive tackle just waiting to burst through the offensive line.

The one issue I would have with him if he did play on the offensive line is his speed. He isn’t the quickest right now, but with a proper training staff like at Illinois, he would get that issue corrected. But, since the speed isn’t necessarily there, I would slot him in at defensive tackle right now.

I do like Rogers’ play, though. This kid has the strength of a bear and is able to throw people around. He is able to get into the opposing player and can turn them away from the play when need be. He is also great at rushing the quarterback as well. He can blow through a line easily.

This offer by the Illini is more of a long-term investment. I can see the potential in this kid. He could be a really good player. Hopefully, he has mutual interest in coming to Champaign.