The end of the Rodgers era

For three years, Oregon State University football could have been referred to as "Team Rodgers."

James and Jacquizz Rodgers were not only the two most important offensive players on the team from 2008-2010, they were the faces of OSU football.

The small, shifty bodies; the dreadlocks; the swagger. All are symbols of the Beavers in those three years.

Jacquizz, who declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season, played his last game in Corvallis last year. He's now seeing time in the Atlanta Falcons backfield.

James, now fifth-year senior after receiving a medical hardship last year, will play his final game at Reser Stadium on Saturday when the Beavers host the University of Washington.

Meaning the end of the "Rodgers era" is rapidly approaching.

James Rodgers's first three years were spent on winning teams who ended their season in bowl games, winning two out of three.

His last two years — the first of which was limited due to a knee injury — have been losing seasons. Last year's team went 5-7. This season, the Beavers are going to have their worst record in at least 15 years.

"Yeah, I mean it's frustrating," Rodgers said. "We've got (two) games left, each of these games count. I think that for us, for the seniors especially, we want to leave out with a bang and get those other guys on the right track."

Sitting at 2-8 with only two games to go probably isn't what Rodgers had in mind for his last year on campus. He has finally started to recover well enough from the knee surgery that kept him out of nine games between last year and this year.

"Of course I hate losing, but at the same time, I've been on both sides," Rodgers said. "Losing makes you want to win even more, but it's something that you have to deal with. If things aren't going your way, you still have to find a way to go out there and win, and play each week if you can. You can't sit up here and whine about losing, you still have to do something about it."

Rodgers has caught at least six passes and gained at least 75 yards receiving in Oregon State's last three contests.

He is also closing on the Oregon State school record for career receptions. After reeling in six receptions in Saturday's 23-6 loss to Cal, Rodgers sits at 218 career receptions, which is two behind current school leader and former Biletnikoff Award winner Mike Hass..

"All he's doing is everything he can, and he has definitely progressed," said head coach Mike Riley of Rodgers's injury recovery and on-field performance.

With only two games left for the senior, the memories at Oregon State outshine the sour note on which his career here may end.

"Just being around the guys," Rodgers said of what he'll miss when he leaves. "It's probably going to be way different not being around these guys … The guys that I've been around, we laugh, joke, hang out together. And going on to whatever I plan on doing might be way different."

When asked to pinpoint a defining moment in his five years here, Rodgers said he was stumped. He did, however, have a turning point for his own individual career.

"Something that helped me a lot, just coming in and being around Sammie Stroughter and those older guys," he said. "I think that's probably one of the best things that could have happened."

Warner Strausbaugh, sports writer

sports@dailybarometer.com