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Blacksburg ATH Elijah Rodgers has big Friday night, back at USC Saturday

Blacksburg (S.C.) class of 2018 ATH Elijah Rodgers grabbed an interception, forced a fumble and blocked a PAT as he played both ways in a grueling 28-20 four-OT victory over Thomas Jefferson Academy (N.C.) on Friday.

On Saturday, the 6-foot-1, 160-pound prospect was back in Columbia to take in a South Carolina home game for the second time this season.

Blacksburg (S.C.) ATH Elijah Rodgers has visited South Carolina twice this season.
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ALSO SEE: Latest on official visitor this weekend | Four-star DL visits South Carolina

"It was pretty good," Rodgers said of the visit. "I talked to the players and some of the coaches. It was a good atmosphere to be around, being an SEC team and having faithful fans. It was good. I saw the fight in South Carolina, having the young kids and everything. I think they're future will be pretty good though."

Rodgers is being recruited by South Carolina running backs coach Bobby Bentley, who has stayed in touch with him.

"He's been just telling me to keep working hard," Rodgers said. "They haven't offered or anything yet, but I want to see if I can get him down to a game, possibly this week. He's a great guy. My dad knew him from when he coached and Bentley was Byrnes, so we have a pretty good relationship."

Rodgers enjoyed watching the debut Saturday of freshman running back Rico Dowdle, who is originally from Gaffney.

"My dad coached him, actually," Rodgers said. "I loved to see him (playing), being able to see him in middle school, then high school, then to be successful coming from Gaffney."

Rodgers holds an offer from BYU, the first program to offer him.

While he's not been to BYU, he's seen them play West Virginia at the Washington Redskins stadium.

"I was pretty surprised (when they offered)," Rodgers said. "It was pretty shocking, I wasn't expecting it. They're great people. It's a great football program. They have some great athletes. I've been keeping up with them the last few weeks. They beat Toledo this week. They can be a pretty good program."

Rodgers plans to visitNorth Carolina next week, Appalachian State and Wake Forest at some point, and Clemson for the South Carolina game.

ALSO SEE: Latest on official visitor this weekend | Four-star DL visits South Carolina

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