Warriors study up on NMSU’s Rogers

In his best impression of Netflix, Hawaii associate head coach Rich Miano often sends DVDs and video links to his football players.

There will be videos of upcoming opponents and professional players.

"I don’t go to movies anymore," UH cornerback Tank Hopkins said. "In my free time, I watch football videos. That’s my fun."

Cornerback Mike Edwards said he has studied videos of tonight’s opposing receiver, New Mexico State’s Taveon Rogers, for the past two weeks. Edwards first noticed Rogers while watching a game between NMSU and San Jose State, the Warriors’ opponent last week.

"He’s a great athlete," Edwards said. "He’s definitely going to bring some pride into the game."

The matchup between Rogers and the UH cornerbacks will be key in tonight’s Western Athletic Conference game at Aloha Stadium. Kickoff will be at about 6:10 p.m.

Rogers has been instrumental in the Aggies’ first six games, averaging 18.3 yards per catch. NMSU and UH are both 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the WAC. The Aggies have won two in a row and, earlier in the season, they upset Minnesota of the Big Ten.

For the Aggies, the foundation was built in the desert heat. During unsupervised workouts this summer in Las Cruces, N.M., the mercury hit as high as 107 degrees.

Those conditions, Rogers noted, helped players get in condition.

"We knew it would pay off," Rogers said.

During the offseason, he added his own workouts.

"I pushed myself to do more," he said.

That has shown in his kickoff returns. Rogers is fifth nationally, averaging 30.88 yards per return, and has scored two touchdowns.

"I’m just a small part of the return team," said Rogers, adding he follows blocks, looks for seams and makes sure to keep "moving the feet."

All of which has Edwards admitting to "majoring in" Rogers this week.

In addition to formations and down-and-distance situations, the UH cornerbacks study an opposing receiver’s speed and routes.

"If I can adjust to his speed, and knowing his routes, it’ll help me out a lot," Edwards said. "(Rogers) has speed off the ball, and he has open-field speed. He might get a chance to play on Sundays."