Ex-Mississippi State QB Will Rogers commits to Washington

Former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers, the second-leading passer in Southeastern Conference history, announced Friday that he is transferring to Washington.

Rogers, who could step in for departed star QB Michael Penix Jr. in 2024 when the Huskies join the Big Ten, told ESPN he is committed to Washington and is making an official visit this weekend.

"I know I have one more crack at it," Rogers told ESPN. "I know I had to do what I had to do -- win as many games as possible. It's a place I feel like they throw the ball around a lot, as we did my first three years at Mississippi State. That's something I'll be excited about coming in."

A four-year starter for his home-state Bulldogs, Rogers threw for 1,626 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in eight games in 2023.

He missed four games due to an upper-body injury and finished with 12,315 career passing yards at Mississippi State, second all-time in the SEC to Georgia's Aaron Murray (13,166 from 2010-13). Rogers' 94 passing touchdowns rank fourth in league history.

Mississippi State finished 5-7 and was not bowl-eligible.

The undefeated Huskies, under head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, are in the College Football Playoff after leading the country with 343.8 passing yards per game.

"Obviously how Coach Grubb runs his offense, it's one of the tops in the country with how they score points and how quarterback friendly the system is," Rogers told ESPN. "People started to catch on to them in 2022, that's when the whole nation took notice. Things didn't go as planned this year (for me), and I entered the portal. I had hoped that they would reach out."