Amari Rodgers Explained

Amari Rodgers
Current Team:Birmingham Stallions
Number:3
Position:Wide receiver
Birth Date:23 September 1999
Birth Place:Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:9
Weight Lb:212
High School:Knoxville Catholic
(Knoxville, Tennessee)
College:Clemson (2017–2020)
Draftyear:2021
Draftround:3
Draftpick:85
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Receptions
Statvalue1:20
Statlabel2:Receiving yards
Statvalue2:249
Statlabel3:Rushing yards
Statvalue3:18
Statlabel4:Return yards
Statvalue4:626
Statlabel5:Total touchdowns
Statvalue5:1
Pfr:R/RodgAm00

Amari Jai Rodgers (born September 23, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Clemson and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft. He has also played for the Houston Texans.

Early life

Rodgers attended Knoxville Catholic High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. As a senior, he caught 40 passes for 1,238 yards with 18 touchdowns. For his career, he had 3,498 receiving yards with 47 total touchdowns.[1] He was rated as a four star recruit and the 16th highest rated wide receiver recruit in the country by the 247Sports.com Composite, which aggregates the ratings of the major recruiting services.[2] Rodgers originally committed to University of Southern California, but flipped to Clemson when they gave him an offer late in the season.[3]

College career

As a freshman at Clemson in 2017, Rodgers had 19 receptions for 123 yards.[4] As a sophomore in 2018, he caught 55 passes for 575 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also returned a punt for a touchdown.[5]

Rodgers missed the first game of his junior season in 2019 due to an ACL tear in spring practice.[6] He finished the season with 30 receptions, 426 yards, and 4 touchdowns.[7] After the season, Rodgers announced he was returning for his senior season rather than entering the 2020 NFL draft.[8] As a senior, Rodgers caught 77 passes for 1,020 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Professional career

Green Bay Packers

Rodgers was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round with the 85th overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft.[9] The Packers send their 92nd and 135th overall picks to the Tennessee Titans to move up and select Rodgers. He signed his four-year rookie contract on July 23, 2021,[10] worth $4.89 million, including a $923,000 signing bonus.[11] He saw his first NFL action on September 12, 2021, against the New Orleans Saints, recording one catch for 19 yards in the 38–3 loss.[12] He finished the 2021 season with 169 yards off punt returns and 199 yards off kickoff returns with his longest being 23 and 27 yards.[13] [14]

During Rodgers' second season, he proved to be inconsistent, totaling five fumbled punt returns over ten games. However, he was otherwise more efficient by nearing his 2021 totals in just over half a season, returning 139 yards off punt returns and 122 off kickoffs through week 10. In a week 10 win over the Dallas Cowboys, Rodgers lost his seventh fumble during a punt return, and was benched afterwards, replaced by cornerback Keisean Nixon. Head coach Matt LaFleur announced they would no longer ask Rodgers to return punts, and he was released by the Packers two days after the game.[15] [16] Meanwhile, in his stead, Nixon was named a First-Team All-Pro as a kick returner, having tallied the most return yards in the NFL despite not winning the job until Week 10.

Houston Texans

The Houston Texans claimed Rodgers off waivers on November 16, 2022.[17] On December 11, Rodgers scored his first career touchdown on a 28–yard reception from Jeff Driskel.[18] Rodgers finished the 2022 season with 16 receptions for 204 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.[19]

On July 30, 2023, Rodgers was waived by the Houston Texans.[20]

Indianapolis Colts

On August 2, 2023, Rodgers signed with the Indianapolis Colts.[21] He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad.[22] [23] On October 3, Rodgers was signed to the active roster.[24] He was waived on October 20, 2023.[25]

Birmingham Stallions

On December 22, 2023, Rodgers signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL).[26]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

YearTeamGamesReceivingKick ReturnsPunt ReturnsFumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
GB16 1 4 45 11.2 19 0 11 199 18.1 27 0 20 166 8.3 23 0 2 0
GB10 0 4 50 12.5 22 0 6 122 20.3 34 0 20 139 7.0 20 0 5 2
HOU6 1 12 154 12.8 37 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0
Total 32 2 20 249 12.5 37 1 17 321 18.9 34 0 40 305 7.6 23 0 8 2
Source: pro-football-reference.com

Postseason

YearTeamGamesReceivingKick ReturnsPunt ReturnsFumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
GB1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 66 22.0 26 0 2 11 5.5 6 0 0 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 3 66 22.0 26 0 2 11 5.5 6 0 0 0
Source: pro-football-reference.com

Personal life

Rodgers is the son of football coach Tee Martin.[27] He is close friends with former Packers teammate Randall Cobb, whom he met while Cobb was playing for Martin at the University of Kentucky.[28]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Oliver . Gavin . July 4, 2017 . Fresh look at the freshmen: Amari Rodgers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170706215954/http://theclemsoninsider.com:80/2017/07/04/fresh-look-at-the-freshmen-amari-rodgers/ . July 6, 2017 . April 16, 2020 . The Clemson Insider.
  2. Web site: Amari Rodgers, Knoxville Catholic, Wide Receiver . April 16, 2020 . 247Sports.com.
  3. Web site: Keepfer . Scott . July 22, 2019 . Meet the Tigers: 3 things you probably don't know about Clemson football's Amari Rodgers . April 16, 2020 . USA Today.
  4. Web site: August 23, 2018 . 2018 Clemson Football Season Preview: Wide Receivers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190806141305/https://www.shakinthesouthland.com/2018/8/23/17761504/2018-clemson-football-season-preview-wide-receivers . August 6, 2019 . April 16, 2020 . SB Nation.
  5. News: Player Stats: Amari Rodgers . . live . April 16, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201024025638/http://stats.washingtonpost.com/cfb/players.asp?id=276271 . October 24, 2020.
  6. Web site: Needelman . Joshua . September 10, 2019 . Clemson's Amari Rodgers to Dabo Swinney: 'I promise you, I'm ready . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210501040302/https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/clemson/clemson-s-amari-rodgers-to-dabo-swinney-i-promise-you/article_22e40274-d3e6-11e9-84af-2fa84b8ee47f.html . May 1, 2021 . April 16, 2020 . The Post and Courier.
  7. Web site: April 16, 2020 . WATCH: Amari Rodgers motivated to show out as senior . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210501040259/https://www.tigernet.com/update/WATCH-Amari-Rodgers-motivated-to-show-out-as-senior-35332 . May 1, 2021 . April 16, 2020 . Tigernet.com.
  8. Senkiw . Brad . March 25, 2020 . Clemson's Amari Rodgers Reflects On Being Year Removed From Knee Injury . . July 31, 2020.
  9. Web site: Hodkiewicz . Wes . April 30, 2021 . 2021 NFL Draft: Packers select Clemson WR Amari Rodgers in the third round, No. 85 overall . April 30, 2021 . Packers.com.
  10. Web site: July 23, 2021 . Packers sign WR Amari Rodgers . July 23, 2021 . Packers.com.
  11. Web site: Amari Rodgers . May 29, 2023 . Spotrac.com.
  12. Web site: Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints - September 12th, 2021 . May 29, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  13. Web site: Amari Rodgers 2021 Game Log . May 29, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  14. Web site: 2021 NFL Kick & Punt Returns . May 29, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  15. Web site: Amari Rodgers Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . November 15, 2022 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  16. Web site: November 15, 2022 . Packers release WR Amari Rodgers, RB Kylin Hill . November 15, 2022 . Packers.com . en-US.
  17. Web site: November 16, 2022 . Texans' Amari Rodgers: Picked up by Houston . May 29, 2023 . CBS Sports.
  18. Web site: Former Clemson WR Scores First Career NFL TD. September 23, 2023. si.com. December 11, 2022 . en.
  19. Web site: Amari Rodgers 2022 Game Log . May 29, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  20. Web site: Houston Texans Transactions (7-30-2023). HoustonTexans.com. July 30, 2023.
  21. Web site: Colts sign WR Amari Rodgers, waive WR Johnny King. Colts.com. August 2, 2023.
  22. Web site: Colts make roster moves to form initial 53-man roster. Stankevitz, JJ. Colts.com. August 29, 2023.
  23. Web site: Colts sign 16 to practice squad. Colts.com. August 30, 2023.
  24. Web site: Colts sign WR Amari Rodgers to the 53-man roster; place cornerback Dallis Flowers on Injured Reserve; sign cornerback Darren Hall to the practice squad. Colts.com. October 3, 2023.
  25. Web site: Colts claim CB Ameer Speed off waivers from Patriots; waive WR Amari Rodgers. Colts.com. October 20, 2023.
  26. 1738409863611314379 . JamesLarsenPFN . According to the FOX Sports roster page, the @USFLStallions have also added WR Amari Rodgers out of Clemson. . December 22, 2023 . December 22, 2023.
  27. Web site: Thomas . Chris . January 30, 2017 . How Clemson football landed Tee Higgins, Amari Rodgers . April 16, 2020 . Knoxville News Sentinel.
  28. Huber . Bill . July 31, 2021 . Trade Reunites Longtime Friends Cobb, Amari Rodgers . September 13, 2021 . Sports Illustrated.