Amari Rodgers credits Clemson staff for preparing him for NFL

On3 imageby:Matt Connolly06/22/21

MattConnollyOn3

CLEMSON — The transition to the NFL has been fairly smooth for Packers rookie receiver Amari Rodgers thus far.

The No. 85 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Rodgers has impressed during his short time in Green Bay.

Rodgers has made plenty of plays during offseason workouts and feels like he has a good grasp on the playbook. He credits Clemson’s coaching staff for preparing him for the next level.

“Just being able to come from Clemson and how they coach me there, teach me the details of the game, teach me coverages and stuff like that, I just took that with me,” Rodgers said recently in an interview. “Everything I learned at Clemson, I just roll with it.”

The terminology in the NFL has been an adjustment for Rodgers, but several of the concepts and routes are similar to what he ran at Clemson.

Rodgers spent three years learning from receivers coach Jeff Scott, before Tyler Grisham took over as the Tigers receivers coach when Scott was named the head coach at USF.

Rodgers also benefited from having a head coach in Dabo Swinney who was a former receivers coach as well.

“Just putting things that tie to Clemson’s offense to this offense and helping that remind me. Just using things that I’m familiar with to help remind me and remember the playbook,” Rodgers said. “Coming from such a great program with coach Swinney and those guys, I feel like they prepared me for this moment.”

The biggest test yet for Amari Rodgers will come next month when the Packers begin training camp.

It’s then that Rodgers will face off against the entire Packers roster and see where he stands.

Rodgers has plenty he wants to accomplish between now and then, but he’s confident thanks to his time playing for the Tigers.

“Get in shape, make sure that I’m in the best shape of my life once I get here for training camp. Just continue study the playbook. Continue to study it every day. Get those mental reps in… Getting it down so that I’m playing fast and ready to go,” Rodgers said of his plan. “I’m pretty comfortable with the offense. We’ve got like 90 percent of it in. I feel like I know it pretty well.”