Episode #56: Washington State University football player Justus Rogers calls in to the show to discuss his football career past, present and future. Justus started as a quarterback for Bellevue High School and then switched to linebacker when he got to WSU.
00:00 - Intro
01:28 - Football Background
03:22 - Bellevue High School Football
04:31 - Playing Quarterback
07:02 - Choosing WSU Over Other Schools
10:05 - Quarterback Vs Linebacker
11:15 - Redshirt 2016 Year
14:10 - Boise St Triple OT Game
15:36 - USC vs WSU 2017
18:20 - Gardner Minshew
20:18 - Starting MLB in 2019 Season
21:43 - Coach Nick Rolovich
23:23 - Max Borghi (WSU Running Back)
24:21 - Practice 2020 Season
25:20 - Regular Season 2020?
28:03 - Apple Cup
29:52 - NFL Draft & Special Teams
31:10 - Fantasy Football and Seahawks
31:55 - Hilinski's Hope & Mental Health
32:50 - Wrap Up
Justus Rogers Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/justus_rogers/
Hilinski's Hope:
https://hilinskishope.org
Chuck Shute Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/chuck_shute/
Thanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!
Episode #56: Washington State University football player Justus Rogers calls in to the show to discuss his football career past, present and future. Justus started as a quarterback for Bellevue High School and then switched to linebacker when he got to WSU.
00:00 - Intro
01:28 - Football Background
03:22 - Bellevue High School Football
04:31 - Playing Quarterback
07:02 - Choosing WSU Over Other Schools
10:05 - Quarterback Vs Linebacker
11:15 - Redshirt 2016 Year
14:10 - Boise St Triple OT Game
15:36 - USC vs WSU 2017
18:20 - Gardner Minshew
20:18 - Starting MLB in 2019 Season
21:43 - Coach Nick Rolovich
23:23 - Max Borghi (WSU Running Back)
24:21 - Practice 2020 Season
25:20 - Regular Season 2020?
28:03 - Apple Cup
29:52 - NFL Draft & Special Teams
31:10 - Fantasy Football and Seahawks
31:55 - Hilinski's Hope & Mental Health
32:50 - Wrap Up
Justus Rogers Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/justus_rogers/
Hilinski's Hope:
https://hilinskishope.org
Chuck Shute Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/chuck_shute/
Thanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!
Welcome to the Chuck Shute podcast. Thanks for listening, or watching since we're not doing videos on YouTube. We have all my old episodes on there, including my interview with WSU offensive lineman Liam Ryan, the one I did with the hilinski forlenza. He's hope. And Today my guest is another WSU player starting middle linebacker justice Rogers. So as many of you may or may not know, I'm a huge football fan. I love the Seahawks for NFL I love the Kooks for college football, and I thought it'd be fun to mix it up. Since I've been doing so many music interviews lately. That'd be fun to have a football player on here. You know, so I think there will definitely be a lot more music interviews on the way but if you like football, especially Cougar football I think you'll enjoy this interview with justice Rogers. He was actually a quarterback at Bellevue high school and they had a lot of success they're probably nationally known program. But he went to WSU and he switched to linebacker and he hasn't looked back since. So we'll talk about all this this whole college career at WSU so far. And I'm still hoping they have some kind of college football season this year for the PAC 12. But at least I can bring you this interview where we get to talk football so enjoy it. All right, well, welcome my show justice Rogers linebacker for Washington State cougars football, hopefully there there is going to be a season this year. I guess we'll get to that. But uh, let's start with your background. So your dad was actually a linebacker as well as walk on at U dub.
Justus Rogers :Right? Yep. Way back in the day, at least for me. But yeah, he was a walk on at the University of Washington. So I kind of grew up with purple around the house.
Chuck Shute :Oh, did he start a u dub or was he like special teams or
Justus Rogers :No, yeah, he was a mostly a special teams and golf team just you know, just being a walk on especially, you know, back then. It was tough and he had a he had me and my sister too. I was in college.
Chuck Shute :Oh, wow. See his hands full. So when did you start playing football then?
Justus Rogers :I started tackle football as early as fourth grade, but then I did flag football before that.
Chuck Shute :Okay, and so then you you're you were actually born in Tacoma but you end up going to Bellevue High School. So where did you live? Did you live in Bellevue, though, most of that time or when did you move to Bellevue?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, so my dad. Ever since I was born, he worked for the Seattle Fire Department. So we're from Tacoma. But growing up, he's always made that commute to Seattle, you know, whenever he's working on a shift or overtime, so after middle school after eighth grade, we decided To move closer to Seattle for his commute and then you know just see check out different high schools. I know I i shadow that Kennedy Catholic. I was looking at Eau de and Isa Catholic in Bellevue. And then we landed at Bellevue. So then we moved up there. Two blocks from high school.
Chuck Shute :Yeah, so Bellevue High School for those of people who aren't from Washington, or the Seattle area. I mean, I think they're actually nation nationally known as a pretty good football High School. Right.
Justus Rogers :Right. Yeah. When I was there. We won What? 11 at one point, we won 11 out of 13 state championships on 13 years. We want 11 state titles. And my freshman year in 2012, I actually played with Myles jack. So I did. He did he ran track two so I ran track two with him.
Chuck Shute :Yeah, he's a linebacker he was went to u dub and now he's then he was, was he in the Jaguars? I can't remember. DLA actually are sorry, UCLA and pitino and then he was drafted by the Jaguars. I feel like is that right? Yeah. He's in the NFL. He's still in the Jaguars. He's somewhere.
Justus Rogers :I think so. Yeah. I believe.
Chuck Shute :Yeah. He was a crazy good at these. He was a linebacker in college, but I remember them putting him at running back because he was just such a good athlete.
Justus Rogers :Right. Yeah. So in high school, they we had him out running back. Right as well. We had a trans man. Yeah. For because how big he was in high school.
Chuck Shute :Yeah. And yeah,
Justus Rogers :and in both ways.
Chuck Shute :Yeah. And you were quite a good athlete yourself. I mean, you let it in track. You did the hurdles. You played basketball. And actually you played you play linebacker at Wazoo now but you're the quarterback at Bellevue high. So you and you ran the wing t offense and you put a pretty good numbers. I'm just curious, like, what's it like? Being the starting quarterback for like a really good football team in high school? Like, is there any downside to that? Does anybody not like worship you besides opposing teams?
Justus Rogers :I mean, the biggest. No, I mean, there's not really, you know, it seems so, so long ago, so
Chuck Shute :but those had to be good years, right?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, those were great. Coach Butch Goddard off was, is a phenomenal coach with him. It was mostly, you know, he tried to make practices, you make practices harder than games. So we were really working, especially with going to the state low and, and all the just executing that that offenses is quite different to a lot of offenses.
Chuck Shute :Yeah, so, like you said, as a senior you guys were 11 and two and you finished, you know, you had the What was that? All kinko second team honors. You had 19 touchdowns, only one interception. Um, so I'm just curious like you were recruited as an athlete. Were you not looking to go somewhere like and only be a quarterback because, you know, they said Russell Wilson was too short to be a quarterback. They said Tom Brady's too skinny? Like Did you have you didn't have any interest in just sticking to being a quarterback. You were open to playing any position.
Justus Rogers :Actually, quite the opposite. So freshman year, I was kind of playing everywhere. I grew up playing quarterback. So I was playing safety and quarterback freshman year and then sophomore year has started outside linebacker for Bellevue, and now still playing quarterback too. We had a senior in the quarterback position. So towards the season, I started getting more and more reps as I was developing. And then after he left, coach, Coach Butch kind of sat down with me and said, Hey, you know, what do you want to do? We can keep you at quarterback. And so you can really work on pursuing that at the next level or kind of put you everywhere. Where as needed I said, Hey, I want to pursue this quarterback thing. So that's why I did so I came to Washington state as a quarterback so I did a spring ball because I graduated right? It's right when summer workouts Back when I first got
Chuck Shute :Yeah, so you were recruited you were talking to u dub Stanford, ASU, UCLA, some other schools. What made you decide on WSU
Justus Rogers :just so they they offered me after my sophomore season in high school. And just just how at first, like, you know, like I said, my dad I was I grew up being a husky. Mm hmm. My dad had a really good job of allowing me to just do the recruiting process on my own with no biases and just choosing what, what fits best for me. So with Washington State, they just kept showing me pretty much like show me love just you know, messaging me, Shawn. You know, they really want me to care about me. And they really see me and you know, in their program, not just as an athlete, but as a person too. And those intangibles So, stopping today. Phantom cinema from A year or two I didn't commit. I didn't commit to them to my senior year. Okay for your season. Now I finally pulled the trigger. When I felt like everything was just falling into place.
Chuck Shute :Was it the assistant that assistant coach recruiting year was the head coach Mike would have been Mike Leach at the time, which would you talk to the most So did you talk to a little bit everybody?
Justus Rogers :So I talked the most to coach me. I mean, the the special teams coach that was here.
Chuck Shute :Okay. Um, he said, Is he in Oregon now or worse? He now? No, he's he won't Leach. You won't.
Justus Rogers :Okay. But a sophomore year before coach Meili was there. Eric Russell was recruited me at the time. Hmm. But then as well, so left and coach Amelie came in as a special teams coach. And then he he took that job and did a great job. So because I'm here now, yeah, no. Yeah. So
Chuck Shute :do they have to like, is it I mean, these other coaches are kind of trying to, to it's basically like a sales thing, right? They're trying to sell you on their program and it's kind of it's pretty competitive and you were talking And all these other schools, right, but how many other offer offers did you get?
Justus Rogers :I actually that's my only offer. Really? Yeah. So what happened was, they'd asked me, Hey, would you be willing to? Are you are you focused on quarterback right now? Or would you be willing to open up in recruiting to play defensor certain other positions and, and I, at the time, I was just, I just solely focused on I wanted to play quarterback.
Chuck Shute :And so at least Leach was open to the possibility of you being able to do that. It was Yeah, so yeah, like you said, you you enrolled in January 2016. You graduated early. Did you have to take like extra classes to do that? Or does Bellevue high set up for you guys to graduate early if you just pass everything?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, so what I did was I went to Bellevue College and did the Running Start Program. Okay, kind of the opposite. I took less classes but got credit, nicer, technically college courses, which Nice
Chuck Shute :yeah that's really cool. So then you got to Wazoo and you said you got to play a little bit of quarterback and then you ended up playing linebacker so what are the similarities and the differences between playing quarterback and linebacker I mean like because don't with a quarterback you have to work on your footwork there's like certain like a three step drop and those kinds of things that you got to do. And linebacker, I'm assuming there's different different kind of footwork you're doing right.
Unknown Speaker :Right, I'm
Justus Rogers :more so more so reaction, I would say in anticipation because everything's timing with the quarterback, timing on routes and, and those sort of things but there's a footwork aspect, just like playing quarterback at linebacker, but just different kind of footwork and, and more more of a reaction because the defense has to react with the offense does.
Chuck Shute :Did that help you like as a quarterback, you had to read the defense's and stuff? Does that help you as a linebacker with the the mental aspect like knowing, okay, you know, this player is going to line up over here and you're kind of seeing what the offense is doing because you've been behind center before.
Justus Rogers :definitely definitely am being a being run in the middle as a middle linebacker, they kind of they call it a lot of times a quarterback of the defense, you got to know what everyone's doing in front of you behind you, just like a quarterback, you got to know where all the pieces are going.
Chuck Shute :Yeah. So that that first year 2016. I mean, you actually, like you said, You shut up in January. So you're there for a whole semester and doing all the spring ball and all that. But then the 2016 season, you don't get to see the field you have to read. Sure. I'm always curious with that, because I think it is probably smarter for people to get all the practice in before they go into the game. But is that frustrating to go from the starting quarterback in high school and you had all these accolades? And then you just don't get to see the field. Like, how do you stay patient especially as such a young person I mean, when I was 18 I mean, I couldn't even you know, I couldn't wait for anything. So you waited a whole year and a half to be able to see the field was that frustrating?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, it was tough. Um, I can probably speak for most Redshirts coming in or people that redshirt. We all want to play We're not used to just sitting out a hole you're not playing games and just practicing and just thought of that but uh yeah I was really trying to get on that bus I was this close to being you know on the bus for special teams you know whether it was you know second string on certain positions on kickoff or whatever I just wanted to travel get the year yeah, it but uh, but they they are the CO my coaches ended up you know, making the decision to redshirt me just because you know I told me Yeah, you just we just see too much potential in you to to burn a red shirt right now. Right? At the same time you know I'm not the only one you know there's no they only they only travel with 60 something players and we have like 100 plus. So you're not doing it alone so that kind of out.
Chuck Shute :So during that redshirt year did you play it? Did they try you at other positions like what made them decide to put you a linebacker did they try you at safety or
Justus Rogers :cornerback or running back or anything else? Right so so like I said I was playing i did i was quarterback spring ball summer workouts and then by the second fall camp practice and Lewiston Leach sat me down and just talked me and said hey you know you get on the field faster playing other positions and and just might with my abilities and then I decided to make the decision on my own at the end of the day to to switch to defense and um they put me at Rush we don't have rush shoes anymore but yeah, they put me out of Russia like what stand up dn okay. They started me out there with Coach Roy Manning was here and then I was making noise and then they put me a nickel towards the end of the season switching me and then after, after that redshirt season, they end up switching me to middle linebacker and then I've been there ever since.
Chuck Shute :Okay, yeah, cuz that first redshirt year or the year redshirt freshman year. We actually play in 2017 you appeared in all 13 games you made four starts you had 47 tackles three sacks. You were named to the PAC 12. all freshmen second team. There's a couple games I want to ask you about. First off the Boise State game, triple ot with a Tyler Alinsky getting the wind. Do you remember that game? Like what was going through your guys's head during that game? Because I think I was watching at a bar. And I think we will watch the rest of this at home. I don't think it's going to turn out well and I turn on the car. And you know, pain Polo or picked up a phone camera was a fumble. interception random back for a touchdown. And then you guys like somehow you came back to when it was that?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, that was that was a crazy game. Yeah, that was uh, that was 2017. Right?
Chuck Shute :Yeah. 2017 year. Well, it was like the third game of the season. I mean, did you think when we played there in 2017 they we played them at home? Yeah. Did you think that you guys, was there ever a thought of like, Okay, this game's over. We lost Oster was there like, Okay, how are we gonna get back from this? Because, I mean, it was just insane. It was one of the craziest comebacks I've ever seen.
Justus Rogers :Yeah, the biggest thing is just Yeah, I remember I remember that game. I was on the sideline most of the time, but uh, just having just having hope. Just keep pushing, not give up, you know, in whatever happened, you know, I think remembering that night, our sideline did a really good job of just keeping keeping everybody motivated. Like if you're not, you know, just doing our best to contribute, you know, whether we're on the field or not, because we're all in it together. Yeah,
Chuck Shute :yeah. or night. And then what here's another good one. This was a fun one. Uh, when you guys were number 16 and you played number five USC that year. Do you remember that game? Like, what was your mindset going in? Because that was a big win for you guys that year. And then I remember after the game Mike Leach said it was like Woodstock except everyone had their clothes on I mean, that's like a famous quote. Do you remember that game like going in like did you were you guys like we can we can beat these guys or what was the mindset there?
Justus Rogers :Oh yeah no we had a game plan especially that week I was in a I was actually in the in the in there our third down package at the time I forget I free I think somewhere linebackers are banged up so I hopped in so that's when I really started playing that season that was after that game but I ended up making a really big third down play because it was very long. I think it was third in maybe like 14 plus. So we're assuming they're gonna they're gonna they're gonna check the ball and then I was like I think we were playing mad time well I was manned up on the back and then they decided to run it and then I ended up chasing it down and making the tackle name ended up and I was actually like Yeah, I remember that one that's all so does Leach just because I felt how big I contributed just Yeah, for the first time
Chuck Shute :no yeah and every play count in that game. It was close. Did Leach give you guys like a pep talk like hey, we can beat these guys. What does he do? Before games because he seems kind of almost like a kind of like an introvert like, I don't see, I don't know, does he give like the pep talks and stuff?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, we're in the locker room. Be he just usually what he does is he, he gives us a talk. And then when he starts raising his voice we know Okay, we're getting serious.
Chuck Shute :Yeah, I think I saw one video of him at like Texas Tech. And he was just swearing at the players and stuff and I'm going Oh, man, like, you know, some people might not think this is so PC right now, but that's just like his style. So I think if you go to wazuh are now I guess, where he's at Mississippi State. And he's your coach. Like you kind of accept that part of him that he's gonna swear you sometimes he's gonna yell and that's just kind of the price you pay for success because he does bring success. Right.
Justus Rogers :Right, right. Yeah, exactly. So yeah, you know, it's more about not necessarily how he says it but but but the but what he says, Yeah, you got to really like, you know, You can you gotta have a I know you put it you can't, you know, just say, Oh, he's saying it to me like this, I should be mad or I should feel some type of way
Chuck Shute :not take it personal and
Justus Rogers :listen to what he's actually saying, you know,
Chuck Shute :not how he's saying it. Yeah, yeah. So then profanity, right. So then the 2018 season this season will always go down as Minshew Mania. I mean, this was a crazy year, you appeared in all 13 games, I think, Peuller was back that year? Hmm. He got a six year so you didn't get to start, even though you played well in his absence. But he took the starting job back. So what did you think of all the Minshew and the mustache stuff? Like do you have any good memories of Minshew? Because it seems every time he's posting something on social media, it's just all stuff that's going viral. I don't know if you saw the other day, he did some karaoke to Celine Dion or lip sync to Celine Dion. Is he just always doing funny shit like that?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, he's always doing that. It was funny. When he first came in the summer, I thought he was a safety or something just because of how athletic he was
Chuck Shute :Really?
Justus Rogers :.... in training & conditioning. Yeah, I didn't know who he was at all, but he just looked like he played.... like, quarterback was the last thing I would have thought he was.
Chuck Shute :Wow.
Justus Rogers :Just because of how just how hard he worked in his workouts and everything just
Chuck Shute :Does he run fast too?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, he has speed. But yeah he was just working hard. I was just admiring just how hard he worked. Just the second he stepped foot on for a first workout.
Chuck Shute :And what did you think when you first saw the mustache? Like, was that something you guys put them up to? or Why did he do that? All you had to kind of did that as a joke. And then he just kept it.
Justus Rogers :Yeah, I mean, he just kept it. I know. I have grown my hair out last year, but it's just one of those things when you're in college. We don't really know Ask questions if it doesn't it doesn't you know, like I said, I myself tried a few different hairstyles myself. So
Chuck Shute :yeah, I I had Liam Ryan on he had the mullet I think, did he finally cut that mullet? Cuz That was awesome.
Unknown Speaker :Ooh. Oh man.
Chuck Shute :I thought I saw him cut it. Oh, I don't think so. Okay, good, good, good. So then yeah, so then that was mention meeting in 2019 last year. That was your redshirt junior year you started all 13 games at the mike linebacker. You had a couple sacks and fumbles. Let's talk about the I know you probably want to talk about this but the UCLA game Oh man, I was watching that game such a huge lead. What happened there? What was what's your take on that game? I had to put a bad taste in your mouth.
Justus Rogers :Yeah, no, I was That was tough to swallow. We just I'm just at least I can speak for our defense we just just made made major simple. Next players that we shouldn't have. I think I think even though we lost we really, we learned a lot from that game. So
Chuck Shute :yeah, cuz you bounced back and then you ended up getting the the bowl game at the end. I actually went to the ballgame because it was here in Arizona. But that was another one where I was like, oh, man, it was so close to that. And that's the last game that you guys have played that that must have put a sour taste in your mouth as well. Like, you want to get back out there and redeem yourself in that game.
Justus Rogers :Right? Yeah, that was tough, too. Yeah, I don't really have much to say about that. But uh, I mean, it's still fun being out there. Yeah. In a bowl game, you know, being in that atmosphere.
Chuck Shute :Yeah. So then after that season, Leach, obviously he leaves from Mississippi State now you guys get coached. Nick rolovich from Hawaii. What's your first impression of him as the coach?
Justus Rogers :Oh he's fantastic. No, he's really involved with. I like how involved he is not just with our team but with other teams at WSU and other programs and just other things in the community, I think he does a really good job in just putting himself out there and just let everybody know hey, like he cares about everything that's going on.
Chuck Shute :Yeah, I saw like his social media he was saying, right when the lockdowns and stuff first happened, he was buying all these pizzas at the local pizza place and said, Hey, I just bought 20 pizzas first 20 people to show up get a free pizza & stuff like that.
Justus Rogers :Yeah...and I think he bought a whole bunch of Girl Scout cookies when it was during during the pandemic too
Chuck Shute :Oh, really? Yeah, that's really cool. It seems like he's really interested in and trying to do all these good things for the community in addition, but also like he kind of has some eccentricites- he's like Leach- like he dressed up in costumes at Hawaii, have you guys seen any of that yet? He hasn't brought out his wildside yet has he?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, not really, just a bucket hat for the most part. The what? Just his bucket hat that he wears..
Chuck Shute :yeah, that's what it's called the bucket hat? Okay.
Justus Rogers :I think so. Yeah, I think it's not. It's like, it's longer than a bucket hat outwards.
Chuck Shute :Yeah. Okay. That's like his trademark for sure. Yeah. And then you guys have a pretty good running back. For those who don't follow the team. I think people will know this name- Max Borghi. Like, I just think he's like so sick. What is it like going up against him? You have to go up against him in practice, right?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, It's fun going up against him. We kind of just have a just a rivalry just linebackers and running backs.. to the always get a block. Or, you know, they, we always see each other a lot during practice, whether we're track top of them or they're trying to block us so it's just a fun little rivalry.
Chuck Shute :Does he make you better? Because I mean, I feel like he's so shifty, and, I mean, he's got to keep you on your toes. Right?
Justus Rogers :Right. Exactly, yeah, no, that is a good rivarly. Yeah, he really gets everybody better on the defense just just working on tackling somebody like him just because he's, he's very elusive.
Chuck Shute :Who else stands out on the offense? Like which? Because I know a couple receivers have left. So which receivers are looking really good in practice?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, it's been, it seems like forever since we've been together, to be honest, because even when we were doing some otaa format stuff, the defense would we would be on our own. Okay. And Vince would come in the next session. So I would have I got to think back.
Chuck Shute :So you guys are not practicing right now then?
Justus Rogers :No, actually, we're gonna, from what I know. We're gonna practice Thursday, Friday, Saturday, this week, and then see next week just how everything is going and what we can do moving forward.
Chuck Shute :So what are but you're you're there. It was an hour, you guys Just doing workouts and stuff like going to the gym and stuff like that.
Justus Rogers :No, I'm actually back home. Oh, spend time family. Yeah, I've been I've been employments into June 16. So, um, so I decided to come back the 29th August 29. So over a week ago, okay, spend time with friends and family before I go back.
Chuck Shute :Okay, so but this week you're going back to and practices will start. Yeah. Are you hopeful that there'll be a season this year because I know they canceled it. But then they're saying, well, I might come back in the winter maybe the spring or what do you think?
Justus Rogers :I have no idea.... They've been just.... it's all up in the air...I don't know.....they've been talking about spring or coach Rolo has been talking about us about like, a spring season starting January. And that sounds promising. But like I said, I don't know.
Chuck Shute :What is the mentality with the in the locker room or with your teammates, I guess not technically in the locker room. I mean, do most people want to play or some people kind of scared about getting Coronavirus or is it kind of a mix?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, we want to play. Yeah, I especially want to play, especially if they've already said, whatever form of a season we have, won't count towards our eligibility and I'd still be able to play next year. But my thing is, it would suck to be having it be a situation in which we start playing... and somebody on our team test positive or whatever, a few people, however many, then they got to sit out for at least two games. And then the other team has to do the same thing. Like I'm the type of player that wants us to be at our best and our opponent to be at their best.
Chuck Shute :Yeah, you want to be competitive for sure.
Justus Rogers :Right. Exactly. So that's what I think Whenever they think about, you know, start new season, you know, soon, so But other than that, I want to play football.
Chuck Shute :Yeah. So if they either if they do have a season and if they don't have a season, you could potentially come back next year and would you decide to do that or would you potentially try to graduate and go out for the draft?
Justus Rogers :Oh, yeah, no. Yeah, I'll play.
Chuck Shute :You'll play Wazzu next year?
Justus Rogers :Yeah.
Chuck Shute :Ah, Okay. But eventually you do want to go for the NFL then? I'm assuming.
Justus Rogers :Yeah, no, that that'd be that's a dream of mine. The biggest thing for me, I just need a I just need to put more film out there for scouts. So I just want to just focus on keeping my head down and grinding just getting better.
Chuck Shute :Did you ever did I know some of the people at your school transferred and they went to other schools that were that are playing this season? Did you ever think of that did you think about consider transferring to another school? Okay, so What's uh huh Pullman's my home that's awesome. That's great. So if there is a 2020 season is this the year that the Cougs finally win the apple cup? What is your theory on why you guys struggle so much against UW? Because I feel like some of the matchups on paper I'm going oh, this is gonna be a good game it's gonna be really close. And then it always ends up lopsided like what is the mentality going into Apple Cup because it seems like Leach always says, "Oh, it's just another game." Do you think that mentality hurts you guys?
Justus Rogers :Well, I see what he means by it's just another game but at the same time, this is Apple Cup. He says that to calm everyone cuz he knows everybody's amped up to play. But uh,
Chuck Shute :But Rolo seems to have an opposite mentality. He's got a countdown going and all this stuff...
Justus Rogers :Yeah, I like it. I like it..
Chuck Shute :And you're from the state. So that's the other theories that they say that there's not there's so many people that are from other states, they don't really see the rivalry. They didn't grow up with it. You grew up with Apple cup. You know how big of a deal it is. But if you're from, Florida, you probably don't really understand the rivalry.
Justus Rogers :Right? Yeah, I agree with that. Because I know a lot of people there like one of my best friends he went to Bellevue too. He's at UW and plays DB at U-dub. And it's just and I know a lot people there and whenever we play them all my family watches... they want to come watch the game whenever we're in Seattle. So
Chuck Shute :does your dad root for you or UW?
Justus Rogers :Oh, he roots for me.
Chuck Shute :Oh, that's good.
Justus Rogers :Yeah, he's actually so he's a he's a paramedic. So he actually works the apple cup last season. When we played there. He was on the field.
Chuck Shute :Oh, that's super cool. Wow. So you said that you'll come back next year, but what do you think you can do to get ready for the NFL Draft? I guess it would be 2022 for you, like, at what point you guys, are you guys allowed to hire an agent and all that? How does that stuff work? Because isn't there like you can't talk to an agent till a certain point or something or,
Justus Rogers :and I have no idea. I either I haven't talked to my coaches about that, or my coach hasn't been talking about that. Yeah, yeah.
Chuck Shute :No, but I like what you said about earlier. We're talking about special teams. I feel like that's how you're gonna make it if you want to be on the NFL. That's how a lot of those guys stick on the rosters is they're able to play special teams do you forget Do you play special teams? It was ooh huh
Justus Rogers :kickoff return started on kickoff return Ponte and I did a lot point return to
Chuck Shute :okay so you do do that yeah, cuz that's that's definitely a skill to have. That's very valuable for NFL so thinking later down the line, but that's cool that I didn't even know that you're going to get another season. So You got some time to figure all that stuff out. So that's awesome. Another question? I don't know, what are the rules with, uh, with with college football players and fantasy football? Are you guys allowed to play fantasy football or Is that considered gambling?
Justus Rogers :I think Yeah, not for money.
Chuck Shute :Okay,
Justus Rogers :you could play for fun. Or just I think just for fun.
Chuck Shute :Do you guys do that?
Justus Rogers :I don't usually I've never really gotten into it. Just because when we're whenever we're in season, I'm just so focused on myself playing that. I don't really take the time out to watch the NFL teams as much
Chuck Shute :did you grow up as a Seahawks fan though, or?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, especially when Russell Wilson got there.
Chuck Shute :Right. Isn't he amazing to watch? Yeah, that's awesome. All right. Well, thanks for taking this time. I always end with a charity Did you I asked you to think of a charity. I know Holland. His hope is that's always one that I've promoted before. Did you have another one that's near and dear to your heart?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, no, I agree. I was gonna choose this one, season two, especially right now this pandemic, there's a lot of just people just sitting around and not doing as much and that could lead to a lot of stress and depression, some some mental health issues. So I think that's really important, especially now.
Chuck Shute :Yeah. How are you guys doing with all this? Like, the teammate, your teammates, your friends and family? is everybody doing okay? Like?
Justus Rogers :Yeah, yeah, we're doing Yeah, we're doing pretty good. Our, we have our counselors pop in, or call us up once a month check in on us too, which is really great to just see how we're doing. Oh, that's awesome. able to talk about whatever we want or what's on our mind.
Chuck Shute :That's great. Well, thank you so much for doing this. I hope there is a season but if not, I'll definitely watch you guys next year. Other than that, Go Cougs you're good. Okay. Thanks, justice. By All right, thank you justice Rogers lineback. For Washington State I'm going to be rooting for him and rooting for a season for the PAC 12 in Washington State. Thank you all for listening or watching. You can see my ugly face. If you're on YouTube. Make sure to check out some of my other episodes and follow me on social media, or subscribe for future episodes. Make sure to follow justice Rogers on Instagram for his updates. And you can learn more about hilinski hope and all the great work they do with mental health, either by clicking the link in the notes to the show, or you can listen to the old episode that I did with hilinski hope and find out all about that stuff. It's episode number 42. I believe. If you enjoy listening to the show, and you made it this far, I'd love for you to write me a review on iTunes. Let me know what you think. Until next time, have a great day or night and remember to shoot for the moon.