Alone at the top: Collin Rogers

[PonyPride]

Alone at the top: Collin Rogers
Career-long 55-yard field goal puts junior kicker atop SMU career scoring list

Posted on 10/06/2024 by PonyFans.com

"I think the next step for him: we’ve got to work on his celebration,” SMU football head coach Rhett Lashlee deadpanned when asked about junior kicker Collin Rogers. "Kickers aren’t used to celebrating. He likes to, (but) got to get him some swag on his celebrations.

Lashlee could afford to take a bit of a playful jab at his team’s placekicker. The coach was enjoying the glow of satisfaction and pride as he met the media after the Mustangs picked up a huge 34-27 road victory at Louisville, a win that lifted the Mustangs into the top 25 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches, while knocking the Cardinals into the ranks of “others receiving votes.”

One player who played a key role in the victory, as he has all season, was Rogers, the junior from Prattville, Alabama. Rogers accounted for 10 points in the victory on four extra points and a pair of field goals, one of which was a career-long 55-yard bomb (that would have been good from 60 or more) with 17 seconds left in the first half and stretched the Mustangs’ lead to 24-13 at halftime.

It also gave Rogers 289 points in his SMU career — he finished the day with 293 — to move him to the top of the program’s all-time list of the most points scored, surpassing three former SMU who shared the previous mark of 288: Xavier Jones, Eric Dickerson and Doak Walker.

Maybe the best part about the new mark for the Mustangs and their fans: Rogers still has a season and a half of eligibility remaining in his SMU career.

"(The) 55-yarder was big — right before half, I believe,” Lashlee said. "Eric Dickerson, Doak Walker and Xavier Jones — that’s some big-time company there. I mean, he’s been big for us this year. We’ve put him in some tough situations — I think that was another 50-yarder, the only one he missed. He’s been big for us, and that’s a weapon, offensively, when you can be aggressive, knowing that once you get past the (opponent’s) 40, you’re in scoring range. That’s a big deal in college football."

Rogers has been solid since he arrived and took over the placekicking job as a freshman, connecting on at least 74 percent of his attempts in each season. This year, his accuracy has reached 80 percent.

The 20 field goals he made as a sophomore are the most has hit in a season at SMU. So far in 2024, he already has 16, with six — at least — games remaining.

"I’m really proud of him,” Lashlee said. “He’s just halfway through his junior year, so hopefully he’s going to put some distance outhouse big names with that record, I think."

[BUS]

Some huge names he has passed. I hope he goes PRO after he posts a almost unreachable number of poinst at SMU.

Lot's of things going great on the Hilltop!

[Hoofprint]

I'm guessing that when he was recruited, he wasn't predicting he would top Dickerson on any list.

Congrats, Collin!

[highlander]

Some huge names he has passed. I hope he goes PRO after he posts a almost unreachable number of poinst at SMU.

Lot's of things going great on the Hilltop!

I hope he goes pro too -- AFTER next year. But I realize that may be too much to hope for.

[PK]

There were a lot of teams this last weekend that could have used a guy like him. There were missed field goals all over the place. We are so lucky to have him here.

[Pony4Life]

There were a lot of teams this last weekend that could have used a guy like him. There were missed field goals all over the place. We are so lucky to have him here.

That list includes a bunch of NFL teams. There aren't many pro jobs available, but it would be really cool to see him in the NFL.

[Charleston Pony]

Just keep adding to those records, Colin. Another FG and 7 points in 1st half vs Stanford

[Charleston Pony]

Rogers just keeps adding to his records. Now has 6 FGs of 50 or more!

[PonyPride]

Make that 7 this year — tops in the nation — from 50 or more