Rising Senior Spotlight: Landon Rogers of Santa Fe

Rising senior Landon Rogers of Santa Fe High School (Alachua) will play football and baseball for the Raiders during the 2021-22 season—and he will act as the field general in both. 

Although Rogers has already made a decision on where he will go after high school, he has put himself in position to have choices.

Rogers enters the 2021 season as a four-year starter at quarterback. Last fall, in his first season after transferring to the Raiders, Rogers threw for over 1,100 yards.

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Santa Fe football coach Jared Allen said there is one thing Landon brings to the Raiders’ football program above all else: leadership.

“Landon is the unquestioned leader of the Santa Fe Football team,” he said. “From organizing 7-on-7s this off-season, getting people to workouts, pushing guys to get stronger, everything about him is the definition of leadership. On the field his leadership and calmness in the face of adversity are going to be key to our success this year.”

Rogers has set the bar high in 2021. His goal is to throw for 2,500 yards with at least 20 touchdowns. He certainly has the knowledge of the game to do so.

Santa Fe's Landon Rogers and head coach Jared Allen

“What separates Landon from others when on the athletic field is how he just ‘gets it’ during games,” Allen said. “He’s not the fastest kid (4.8 40-yard dash), and he doesn’t have the strongest arm (69-yard distance throw), but his ability to solve problems quickly is unique.”

He is currently receiving interest from University of Alabama-Birmingham, Villanova, the University of West Florida, Valdosta State and Columbia for football.

But in baseball, the All Area catcher has found a home. Rogers recently committed to play baseball at Santa Fe College.

“Landon is not only a great player but also a great teammate and leader,” said Santa Fe baseball coach Travis Yeckring. “He knows how to bring the best out of others, which is a special trait. His hard work has allowed him the opportunity to move on to one of the best junior college programs in the country.” 

This past spring, Rogers batted .333 with seven doubles and he had the only two home runs for Santa Fe (23-3), which finished with its best regular season winning percentage in school history.

“When he focuses on baseball full time, I think his ceiling is off the charts,” Yeckring said. “We’re lucky to have him in our program and can’t wait to follow his growth as a person and baseball player when he moves on.”

Rogers, who also led the team with 21 RBI, said his favorite high school sports moment so far was “beating Baker County for the district championship in baseball.”

There are two things he is looking forward to during his senior year.

“Making a run in the football playoffs, and getting back to the playoffs in baseball,” he said.

Rogers will be under center when the Raiders open up the regular season on Friday, Aug. 27, at home against Alachua County rival Newberry.

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