Malik Rodgers enamored with Air Force, makes commitment
When Malik Rodgers is asked about what he loves most about the Air Force Academy, he almost doesn’t know where to start. Once he gets going, he doesn’t know where to stop.
On Friday afternoon, the three-star Pearland, Texas, wide receiver chose not to overthink what his gut was telling him and committed to the Falcons.
“It was an easy decision, really,” he said. “I went up there for a visit in June and, to be honest, everything just blew me away. I came up there with an attitude like because it was a service academy, I probably wouldn’t go there but I got up there and everything amazed me.
“The view, the coaches, the players, it all kind of hit me and I was like, wow,” he added.
Rodgers said that he first seriously began thinking about Air Force following his experience at a prospect camp there this past summer. Wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield stayed on him all afternoon, but he valued the attention and the dose of reality mixed into his message to him about what it takes to have a football career there.
“He told me that if I was really thinking about committing there, the things that I really needed to know,” he said. “He was being hard on me, and everyone else, but I started thinking that this is a coach that I really want to play for. Not only did he believe in me from the moment he saw me, but he wanted to teach me … They just did everything and kept in contact and I appreciate that.”
Rodgers is a dynamic slot receiver, and had a nice offseason showing his shiftiness and ability to make tough, contested catches. He was also one of the top receivers at the Rivals Three Stripe Camp Series presented by adidas in New Orleans this spring.
“Their best two receivers are a junior and a senior this season,” he said. “When I get up there, one of them will have graduated, but it’s still going to be tough. The moment that I start learning everything, taking in everything, and being able to process it in a game, then I’m coming for that No. 1 spot.”
Rodgers said that he’ll focus on business or finance in his studies, but is still keeping his eyes on an eventual professional football career. Of course, he’ll have plenty of options if plans change.
“You can go to the NFL from a service academy,” he said. “It’s hard, and I want to push myself to the best I can be up there … you need a signature from the department of defense to go to the NFL, but if you’re good enough to play there, they’ll get you there.
“I also know that with that, comes an amazing opportunity and the Air Force Academy also pays for you to get your masters degree and I will have no debt coming out of college - and that’s a blessing.”