2018 QB recruit Justin Rogers commits to TCU over LSU, North Carolina

It’s been a long time coming, but Justin Rogers is officially a Horned Frog. The 4-star quarterback prospect from Bossier City, Louisiana committed to TCU on local television Wednesday evening, picking the Frogs over LSU and North Carolina.

Rogers is rated as the No. 3 player in Louisiana, the No. 6 dual-threat QB, and the overall No. 89 player in the 2018 class, according to the 247 Sports Composite Rankings. He holds offers from TCU, LSU, North Carolina, Oregon, Harvard, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisville, Texas, Baylor, Ole Miss, Georgia, Arizona, Miami, and more.

The Frogs were one of the first teams to offer the 6-4, 200 pound QB, and their timeliness, plus a continued outworking of every other team to recruit Rogers, and his whole family, paid off in the end. Rogers cited his relationship with offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie as one of the major reasons for committing to the Frogs.

“Mainly my relationship with the coaches, my relationship with Coach Cumbie, with all of the coaches there. That was my mom’s first visit, and she fell in love with it. The family environment - that was the first coach I saw with a bible sitting in his office - so I just fell in love with it,” Rogers said.

“The offense is explosive; the game I went to, against Oklahoma, Kenny Hill threw for over 500 yards, so I am excited to play in it.”

Rogers commitment is a big deal for a handful of reasons.

1. TCU’s QB Depth Chart is Thin

You’ve got Kenny Hill and Shawn Robinson, but behind them are Grayson Muehlstein and walk-on Jordan Kitna (along with a few other walk-ons). By the time Rogers gets to campus Hill will be gone, and Robinson will most likely be the starter. Similar to this season, where Robinson enrolled early and was bumped to No. 2 on the depth chart this spring, Rogers will have a good chance, as an early enrollee himself, to jump up the depth chart in spring ball to at least No. 2.

2. This is a head-to-head recruiting win over LSU

TCU has long been recruiting the Boot well, especially in the Shreveport/Monroe northern half of the state. However, a lot of these guys haven’t held offers from LSU for one reason or another. That’s not to say that LSU doesn’t regret withholding an offer from the likes of KaVontae Turpin, or James McFarland, or Terrell Lathan.

But, in the last six recruiting classes (2012-2017), TCU has signed 15 recruits from Louisiana, and only two have held LSU offers (Tevin Lawson and Deshawn Raymond).

Now, please don’t hear that as a slight against those other guys. We’ve seen that an LSU offer isn’t the singular means for identifying players who will have success at the next level. Heck, Lathan and McFarland are both camping with NFL teams this year, and Turpin very well could be soon.

But, this recruiting win is absolutely different, and a little bit sweeter, because Rogers not only held an offer from LSU, but was arguably their top QB target for this class.

3. Does this open the floodgates?

As JT mentioned in his recruiting piece earlier this week, Rogers commitment very well could trigger a few more commits in favor of the good guys. Obviously the biggest name on the list is 5-star WR, and Rogers’ high school teammate, Terrace Marshall. To stop there though would be a disservice to the other guys who may commit.

4-star WR JaMarr Chase, a top 50 wide receiver in this class, is close to Rogers, as is 3-star athlete Slade Bolden. There are a handful of other guys who may consider following Rogers to TCU as well.

Now, we’ve heard things like this in the past, where guys were going to bring other guys with them, so who knows if it’s actually true.

If it is, though, then Rogers could go down as one of the most crucial recruiting wins in a long time.