The remaining 10 members of Clemson’s 2017 signing class arrived on campus June 25, joining early enrollees Hunter Johnson, Logan Rudolph, Baylon Spector and Blake Vinson.
The Clemson Insider gives a scouting report on each of the newcomers. We break down what the player does best, what he can do to earn playing time as a freshman, his future outlook and more.
Name: Amari Rodgers
Position: Wide Receiver
Height, Weight: 5-10, 195
Hometown (High School): Knoxville, Tenn. (Knoxville Catholic HS)
Prospect rankings: 4-star, No. 12 WR, No. 4 state, No. 72 national (ESPN); 4-star, No. 30 WR, No. 8 state, No. 186 national (Rivals); 4-star, No. 28 WR, No. 2 WR in state, No. 199 national (Scout); 4-star, No. 17 WR, No. 6 state, No. 104 national (247Sports)
High school stats & accolades: For his career, had 3,498 receiving yards and 47 touchdowns… As a senior, had 40 catches for 1,238 yards and 18 touchdowns… As a junior, had 61 receptions for 1,570 yards and 23 touchdowns… As a sophomore, caught 25 passes for 407 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 725 yards and nine scores… Under Armour All-American in 2016… Named Mr. Football at the 4A level in the state of Tennessee each of the last two years
Strengths: Don’t be fooled by Rodgers’ shorter height — he is a big playmaker. As a senior, Rodgers posted 10 catches of 50 or more yards. The dynamic, explosive athlete can beat a defensive back deep and high point the ball very well. He is quick, changes directions on a dime and has good hands. Rodgers, who played a lot of running back in high school, is going to be a weapon after the catch because of his compact build and combination of power and speed.
What he can do to earn playing time as freshman: Rodgers didn’t begin playing receiver until he was a junior, so he will likely face a learning curve at the position in college. He is physically ready to play immediately at Clemson, and the opportunity to do so is there after the early departure of Artavis Scott. Demonstrating a good grip on the playbook and his positional responsibilities in fall camp would further increase his chances of seeing the field this fall. Rodgers, a tireless worker, has always gotten the most out of his talent and should continue to do so as a Tiger.
Future outlook: Rodgers is a perfect fit for Clemson’s “2” receiver position, possessing a skillset to be a threat not only at receiver but also on screen passes, jet sweeps and other versions of Clemson’s extended running game. He is essentially an Artavis Scott clone, but here’s to believing he’ll be even better.
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