Coming from the collegiate division, Jacquizz Rodgers was one of the most highly-prized running backs in the 2011 NFL Draft. He had garnered a lot of accolades in the PAC-10 conference and as such, a lot of teams had their eyes on him. It was, however, the Atlanta Falcons who landed him and locked him down on a rookie contract.
Rodgers would eventually spend about four years with the Falcons, a time during which he established himself as an important special teams member. He also helped the franchise to the playoffs on two occasions before departing in 2015. Since then, the player has moved around quite a bit and as of 2019, is searching for a team that requires his services.
Jacquizz Led His High School to State Championship Glory
Jacquizz Rodgers was born on the 6th of February 1990 in Richmond, Texas. He had his high school education at Lamar Consolidated High School in Rosenberg, Texas where he was an excellent football player. In his senior year, he recorded 2,890 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns as well as 556 yards receiving and five touchdowns to lead his high school to the 4A Division 1 State Football Championship in 2007.
In the championship game, Rodgers rushed 31 times for 233 yards and pulled off 3 touchdowns as his school defeated Copperas Cove High School to emerge state champions in the 4A division. In recognition of his individual contribution, the running back was named the offensive player of the year in the 4A division and was also given the very first Mr. Texas Football Award. The Associated Press also named him the 2007 Texas Player of the Year.
His Exploits in the Pac-10 Conference
Unsurprisingly, Jacquizz Rodgers received offers of football scholarships from several far-flung colleges, including the University of Georgia, University of Florida, University of Alabama, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Southern California. He, however, picked Oregon State University so that he could join up with James, his older brother who was already playing college football there.
@J_Rodgers18 tell them boys you been a sneaker head…hahah Laser 4s 🤔 pic.twitter.com/4lBTbd1JJF
— JacQuizz Rodgers (@Qui22Rodgers) March 29, 2020
Jacquizz spent three outstanding seasons at Oregon State, from 2008 to 2010, receiving several honors and recognition. He was named freshman of the year in the PAC-10 conference. He was also named the offensive player of the year in his final year and was named to the first-team All-Pac-10 team in each of his three years at the institution.
Given this level of success, it was not surprising that Rodgers decided to forgo his 4th year of college football and enter the 2011 NFL Draft.
Jacquizz Rodgers’ Time in the NFL Began with the Atlanta Falcons
Jacquizz Rodgers was picked in the fifth round of the draft by the Atlanta Falcons who signed him to a four-year contract. They immediately threw him into the heart of things and he went on to prove that his college exploits were no fluke by recording a total of 205 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He also tallied 188 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown as the Falcons made it to the playoffs in his debut season.
Rodgers spent three more years with the Falcons. He tallied an additional 911 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns as well as 916 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns. His poor output on the field prompted the Falcons to not extend his contract.
He Spent a Year with the Chicago Bears Before Having a Stint at Tampa Bay
After having been let go by the Falcons, the running back signed for the Chicago Bears where he managed just one season before he was released by the team. Jacquizz Rodgers subsequently joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent in September 2016. He made his debut for the Buccaneers shortly after his September signing and went on to record a career-high of 30 carries on 101 yards in a game against the Carolina Panthers on the 10th of October 2016.
Jacquizz maintained this impressive form all season-long and was able to tally 560 yards and 2 touchdowns on 129 carries. The Buccaneers thereafter rewarded him with a two-year contract extension and he remained there for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Unfortunately, Rodger’s productivity declined and he found himself getting little playing time (he only started just 4 out of 32 games in 2017 and 2018). This, therefore, meant that the Texas native didn’t get much chance to play and this reflected in his declined stats. Such did not stand well with his employers and they let him go on the expiration of his contract.
Jacquizz Rodgers has since then been on the search for a new team. He initially joined the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints in 2019 but didn’t make their final 53-man roster for the 2020 season.
Jacquizz Rodgers’ Earnings Thus Far
Jacquizz Rodgers signed several contracts while he was active in the NFL. His first professional contract was a four-year deal he signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2011. That deal was worth $2.231 million and paid him about $557,750 each year. It also included an additional $191,000 in signing bonuses.
Upon the expiration of his rookie deal, Rodgers moved to the Chicago Bears on a fully-guaranteed one year contract of $785,000. He then received another one-year contract worth $840,000 before moving on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2016. The running back spent three years with the Buccaneers during which he gained a one-year contract worth $760,000 and then a two-year extension worth $3.3 million. According to Spotrac estimates, Rodgers has earned about $7.9 million in salaries since going pro.
His Brother Did Not Have a Career in the NFL
Jacquizz Rodgers’ older brother, James Rodgers, has been a very supportive figure in his life. The two grew up with their mum Tasha Williams and their maternal uncle, Rodney Williams, because their biological dad, James Rodges Sr., was incarcerated. The NFL star also has a sister whose identity is not known. He is also the nephew of former St. Louis Rams safety Michael Lewis.
James Rodgers was a promising football player before his career was cut short by a knee injury. He played as a wide receiver at Oregon State from 2007-2011 and ranks third in the school’s history with 222 career receptions and sixth with 2,578 receiving yards. He also excelled in track for his alma mater.
James took part in the 2012 NFL draft but was not drafted. He thereafter signed as a free agent for the Atlanta Falcons but was released after two seasons on the practice squad. From there, he moved to the Canadian football league where he played for the Montreal Alouettes for two seasons with some measure of success.
At present, James Rodgers is the director of player development at his alma mater – Oregon State University.
Jacquizz Rodgers is Happily Married with Two Kids
As Rodgers continues his quest for a new team, one person that will definitely have his back is his long-time girlfriend-turned-wife, Samantha Rodgers (nee Pfaff). Samantha is a native of Independence, Oregon, and her parents’ names are Tom and Carol Pfaff. She attended Central High School before studying Human Development Family Services at Oregon University, receiving her degree in 2012.
Given that Rodgers also studied at Oregon University between 2008 and 2011, it seems highly likely that this was where he met and commenced a relationship with Samantha. That romance has since produced two daughters; Channing and Hudson.
The couple got married on the 19th of March 2016 in Houston. This beautiful interracial couple are going strong as Samantha has been known to defend her husband’s interest whenever the need arises.
