Feb. 12, 2009
University of New Mexico head football coach Mike Locksley announced today that Oak Ridge (Tenn.) High School senior Demarcus Rogers has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Lobos. A speedy 5-11, 170-pounder, Rogers played mostly running back and defensive back in high school, but could contribute at a variety of positions at the collegiate level. He is the 20th player to sign with New Mexico in 2009.
Rogers inked his NLI on Tuesday and received official certification from the UNM and Mountain West Conference compliance offices this morning.
Rogers, who has been clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, was better known as a standout point guard for the Oak Ridge basketball team earlier in his career before breaking through on the football field.
He averaged 5.1 yards per carry as a senior (444 yards) and scored nine rushing touchdowns in his first year as the starting tailback for the class 5-A Wildcats. Rogers was also an outstanding receiving threat throughout his career, racking up 50 catches for 802 yards (16.0 average), along with seven touchdowns in his last three seasons.
In a win against Fulton High School last fall, Rogers scored on an 82-yard kickoff return and also returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown.