Sam Rogers: The Hokies' Pass-Catching, Block-Throwing, Tackle-Breaking Walking Contradiction

The more you learn about Sam Rogers' football career, the more it seems like he's a character in a movie rather than just the Hokies' starting fullback.

Rogers won the job as a walk-on freshman a season ago, an impressive feat on its own, but that's hardly the strangest part of his story.

Now, with Rogers poised to expand his role in the offense as the Hokies struggle with injuries and inconsistency in the running game, it's scarcely believable that this sophomore from Mechanicsville, Va. finds himself as one of Tech's most important players on offense.

"It feels like old times again," Rogers said of his newfound opportunity on offense. "It feels like running the ball in high school, just making plays and it's definitely a reward because it doesn't come around that often."

Back in his days at Hanover High School, coaches could barely keep the ball out of Rogers' hands. It might seem unusual, but the 5' 10" Rogers began his career under center.

"Sam was the varsity starter at quarterback as a freshman, just think about that," said Josh Just, Hanover's coach during Rogers' playing days and the school's current athletic director. "He won All-Metro, District, Region honors, started as a sophomore then he tore a ligament in his elbow."

An injury like that for a quarterback might normally mean months on the bench as they regain their throwing form, but Rogers took a different approach. Instead of taking time to recuperate, he just came back and switched positions.

"He came back in less than two weeks and immediately moved to H-Back and outside linebacker," Just said.

By his senior year, Just could scarcely find a position on the field that Rogers didn't excel at.

"His last year, he rotated everywhere for us," Just said. "We'd start him at quarterback and middle linebacker, then play him at running back, H-back, tight end and slot receiver. He returned kickoffs and was the up man on our punt team."

Rogers managed to both throw and run for over 1,000 yards in his senior season, in addition to running for 18 scores and throwing for six more.

Yet when it came time for him to start thinking about the next level, he didn't exactly have many options to choose from. He had a pair of offers from FCS programs, but not a single FBS team had a scholarship for him.

"College coaches must be smarter than me, because I certainly thought he deserved one," Just said. "I was shocked that he didn't get one, I still don't know why he didn't."

Undeterred, Rogers resolved to walk on to Tech's squad after meeting with members of the Hokies' staff.

"He just had a great connection with Shane Beamer, he felt comfortable there, and their history with walk-ons was important too," Just said. "It was just important to him that he prove himself at the highest level possible."

He joined the team for fall camp in 2013 and immediately stood out. He quickly earned the starting fullback job, and stood out in the passing game, catching 12 balls for 78 yards last season.

The team also made use of his old skills as a quarterback, rolling out a trick play for him against Virginia in addition to taking advantage of his versatility all over the field.

"He's a guy that I think you could put on literally any position on offense except offensive line and I think he'd be ok," said running backs coach Shane Beamer.

His production might've been a surprise for fans, but anyone familiar with his high school career knew it was just a matter of time until Rogers proved what he could do.

"He was definitely well known throughout the state," said running back Trey Edmunds, who played just two hours south of Hanover at Dan River HS. "I don't know how or why he didn't get a scholarship, but he was definitely well known throughout the state and well respected."

He's already made a larger impact on the offense so far this season, catching eight passes for 56 yards and a critical touchdown in the Ohio State win.

[Virginia Tech Athletics \ Dave Knachel]

"Sam and (former wide receiver) Joel (Caleb) are really as, our pass catchers goes, the two tailbacks that we have that you can put out at wide receiver and ask them to run any route and be good at it," Beamer said.

He's also been an asset in pass protection, often lining up beside quarterback Michael Brewer in shotgun formations to bail him out of trouble.

"He's always there in protection," said tight end Ryan Malleck. "If someone messes something up, he's there to chip or give Brewer more time."

But with Shai McKenzie going out for the year and Edmunds still an unknown quantity as he continues his comeback from a broken tibia, the staff is ready to turn to him in the running game as well. The team gave him one carry against Western Michigan, and there could be more to come.

"He carried the ball on Saturday and we needed him to do that because we knew we had a tendency if he was only the RB in the game it was a heavy pass percentage. We had run the ball with him in a game, but not a lot, so we knew we needed to break that tendency and we did," Beamer said. "An expanded role with him can mean anything."

The coaches haven't made it clear to Rogers exactly where he'll be utilized going forward, but he seems ready to meet the challenge.

"I'm excited to expand my role any way I can, that's my goal to keep expanding my role each game, each week, each year," Rogers said. "I really don't know what exactly it looks like, but I'm excited."

He might be willing to play any role on the field, but he seems particularly fired up to have the ball in his hands again.

"I love running the ball. I love talking to Shane about it, getting a chance to get it any way I can," Rogers said. "I love doing that stuff. That's what I did all through high school, getting the ball and trying to make plays and I love the opportunity to do it again and I believe I can do big things when I get the ball."

Rogers isn't the only one that gets pumped up when he gets a carry here and there.

"I love to see him running the ball because he can do it," Edmunds said. "He definitely did it in high school, and he can do it on this level too, so it definitely gets us excited on the sideline."

Part of that excitement comes from the fact that he's such a vocal presence in the locker room.

"Sam Rogers is a very funny guy. He's a relentless guy," Edmunds said. "He can just go 110% on every play and he's in every single play and he doesn't get tired. And it's like 'how do you do it?' The coaches call his name and he always produces."

Just isn't surprised that Rogers has remained such a strong leader. After all, he saw that quality in him when he was still in elementary school.

"He became a vocal leader for us even as a freshman. He'd call me on my cell and ask questions all the time," Just said. "I coached his older brother too, and his whole family's like that. When I met him as a fifth grader he was like that even then."

But what really sets Rogers apart in the huddle is his way to find to lighten the mood when the moment is right.

"He's got a real dry sense of humor, he'll catch you before you've even realized he's joking," Just said. "It goes with being a good leader. He knows when to make a joke at the right time."

His teammates echo that notion.

"The things he says cracks me up," Malleck said. "He's hilarious."

For a guy whose appearance once invited comparisons to Ivan Drago of "Rocky" fame, it's a bit of a surprise to hear all this about Rogers' charisma. But if anything seems true about Rogers, it's that he consistently defies expectations.

"His personality is unique," Malleck said.

With the staff ready to lean on Rogers even more against the Tar Heels, they could be about to discover what Just has known about him for some time.

"I'm biased, but I'd say give the ball to Sam more because he always does something positive with it," Just said.