ATHENS — Da’Rick Rogers was just a bit player when he came to Sanford Stadium with Tennessee last October. Then a freshman wide receiver, he managed one catch for minus-3 yards as the Vols lost 41-14.
But things will be different when the Georgia Bulldogs play in Knoxville and Neyland Stadium on Saturday. Now a sophomore, Rogers is the primary target in one of the SEC’s most prolific passing attacks. He leads the Vols in receiving yards (442) and touchdown catches (6).
Rogers’ progress is in part because of his continued development and also the result of increased opportunities. The Vols lost sophomore wideout Justin Hunter to a season-ending knee injury three weeks ago against Florida.
Asked where he had improved most since last season, Rogers said: “Mainly just with route-running and speed off the ball. College and the SEC are all about how fast it is. Once I got a hang of that and got the playbook down pat, I was just able to play fast. And then it was about who’s the better athlete.”
Few players are more athletic that the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Rogers. He was an AJC Super 11 selection when he graduated from Calhoun High. He also was a Georgia commitment for seven months before reneging in late January and signing with the Vols the next month.
Rogers’ said he felt the wrath of that decision at Sanford Stadium last year. “Being booed by the whole stadium, that was new to me,” he said. “It was crazy to hear that. But it didn’t really affect me.”
Rogers, Tennessee coach Derek Dooley and Georgia coach Mark Richt have been asked this week about the events that led to Rogers’ change of heart in January 2010.
“We came in and had to scramble the last two weeks,” Dooley said. “So we were very fortunate that we got not just Da’Rick, but Justin Hunter. That’s kind of forged the future of our receiving corps. Everybody’s making a big story out of it, but for every one of those we get in Georgia, we lose about five others that we want. That’s just part of recruiting. But we were fortunate to get Da’Rick, and we’re glad he’s with us.”
Said Richt: “By the time he did de-commit, we were pretty sure he was going to do that. So it didn’t come as a shock. But we think he’s a good player. We wanted him, we recruited him, we thought we had him for a while, then it changed. It happens in recruiting.”
Rocking on ‘Rocky Top’
Christian Robinson had a headache after Wednesday’s practice, and it wasn’t from knocking heads with his teammates. He said it was from having the Tennessee theme song “Rocky Top” blasted at him over loudspeakers for two hours.
“I know half the song now,” said the inside linebacker, shaking his head. “I know they get their corn from a jar. I’ve memorized that part.”
The Bulldogs also blared the song all day Tuesday, and they’ll do it again in Thursday’s walk-through practice at Sanford Stadium. There’s a method to the madness, Richt said. It’s to prepare Georgia to focus in what he says is one of the SEC’s loudest stadiums.
“We’ll hear it a lot more tomorrow,” Richt said. “We were going to have the QB whisper his cadence just to have everybody focus and listen. We just decided to do the music in certain times in the practice just to get used to that sensation. It is a different deal.”
Dogs to honor Figgins’ mother
The Bulldogs will wear the initials “KDF” in pink letters on their helmets this week as a tribute to the mother of senior fullback Bruce Figgins. Kim Figgins has been waging — and winning — a battle with breast cancer this year.
“Bruce’s mom has been dealing with that lately,” Richt said. “We just want to let her know that we love her and we care about her very much and we pray that everything comes out well. We pray for everybody who’s dealing with any kind of cancer right now, for that matter.”
Injury update
Chances are good the Bulldogs will get at least spot duty out of former starting right guard Chris Burnette on Saturday. The sophomore was able to practice for the second consecutive day after being sidelined the past two games with a knee injury.
Cornerback Damian Swann, out the past two games with a groin injury, also is set to return. The freshman started against Coastal Carolina.
Junior flanker Rantavious Wooten will not be available, Richt said. The former starter will miss his third consecutive game since suffering a concussion in a car accident Sept. 23.
