Aug. 7, 2013
Training Camp Central
By Greg Archuleta
UNM Assistant Director of Communications
RUIDOSO – Quick, name the first University of New Mexico running back to rush for 100 yards last season.
Lobo running back Kasey Carrier had a breakout season in 2012, going for a school-record 1,469 yards. But it was his backfield mate, Demarcus Rogers, who ran for 103 yards in the opener against Southern – the first Lobo to hit triple digits in rushing yards in 26 games, dating back to the 2009 season.
Carrier had many highlights in 2012. For Rogers, the Southern game was his only highlight of the season, having missed all but one play the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Rogers is back on the field for the Lobos as they go through fall camp away from home. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound running back is competing for playing time in a crowded backfield that features Carrier, junior Crusoe Gongbay and sophomore Jhurell Pressley.
Rogers is hoping to make up for injured time.
“I feel like a little kid again, running around on the field, doing everything,” says the senior from Oak Ridge, Tenn. “I’m just really happy to be out there.”
During the first half of Southern game, Rogers suffered a hit to his right knee. He shook it off to return in the second half of that game but missed the next week against Texas.
Rogers played one play the following week at Texas Tech, scoring a touchdown in the second quarter. But the knee wasn’t getting better and it was confirmed that Rogers suffered an ACL tear that ended his season.
He says the injury deflated his spirit. Ironically, it was Carrier, the player who went on to have the monster season in Rogers’ absence, who helped his injured teammate deal with his misfortune.
“I had to be around my team. Both the players and the coaches kept me positive,” he says.” I have to give a lot of credit to the captain of our group, Kasey. “He really kept my mind in it; he really kept me going. He was there all the time saying listen, you’ll be out there with me. I guess that’s why he’s our captain now.”
Which is why Rogers refused to think “Why me?” – or in this case, “Why not me?” – as Carrier was on his way to setting the school rushing record last season.
“A lot of stuff goes through your mind when something like that happens, but I’m very happy for Kasey,” Roger said. “If anybody deserved to have that kind of season, I’m glad it happened to Kasey. I’m really his No. 1 fan there on the sidelines. I guess I could say I was proud of him.”
As Rogers transitions back from a support role to an active role on the team, he says he spent the offseason learning the other position on offense to help him understand how the running back’s role fit with the rest of the unit. Now, he says, he has to utilize that knowledge as he works the rust off from a year’s layoff.
“I was cleared to play in the summer,” Rogers says. “It’s the timing and the technique that’s hard to get back. A lot of people just thing you can come back and pick up where you left up. No, once you stop something, it’s hard to get it back and get back into it – getting everything down pat to the way you used to have it.”
When asked what he can do to get noticed on a position that could be the deepest on the team, Rogers just laughs.
“I’ll just do me,” he says. “As far as me and Kasey, we’re different kinds of backs. I’m real shifty; I like to juke a lot. Kasey will give you one move and he’s gone. I do what I do in practice. We’re going to bring some excitement to the crowd this year.”
Being back on the field is an idea that Rogers has had plenty of time to think about.
“I actually can’t wait for it,” he says. “It’s something I’ve been dying to do for a whole year. I’m so anxious to get out there in front of Lobo fans.”
And if any school records are to be set in 2013, Rogers wouldn’t mind it being two 1,000-yard Lobo rushers in the same season.
“It sounds real good,” Rogers says. “It might come this year.”
FALL CAMP PRACTICE: Pass plays during a two-minute drill highlighted at the end of Wednesday morning’s practice. Quarterback Cole Gautsche completed a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marquis Bundy during the first team’s two-minute drill.
Backup QB Clayton Mitchem then found true freshman wideout Dameon Gamblin on a 35-yard pass play to put the team in field-goal range with four seconds left in the drill.
Coach Bob Davie said he was really pleased with the team’s level of football, compared to 2012.
“This morning felt more like Mountain West football than any time since I’ve been here,” Davie said. “We’re making strides.”