George Rogers was the AJC Class A Back of the Year in 1976, Class B Back of the Year in 1975, and was named to the 1976 Coach & Athlete All-American team. During his junior year in 1975, he rushed for 2,300 yards and scored 28 touchdowns while helping Duluth achieve an 11-3 record and Class A Finals appearance. In 1976 as a senior, Rogers rushed for 1,332 yards, but the Wildcats were unable to secure a playoff spot, despite losing just one game. As a highly recruited back, Rogers took his talents to the University of South Carolina where he rushed for 5,091 yards, including 1,781 as a senior, and became South Carolina’s first active player to have his jersey retired, No. 38. A year after becoming the first Georgia-grown player to win the Heisman Trophy in 1980, the New Orleans Saints made him the first Georgia-grown player to ever be taken first overall in the NFL Draft. Rogers was the 1981 Offensive Rookie of the Year, and went on to start in 78 out of 92 games played. He became a three-time Pro Bowler, First-Team All-Pro, and Super Bowl XXII champion in 1988 with the Redskins. Rogers finished his NFL career with 7,176 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns.
