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4-star OL Zach Rogers signs with Razorbacks

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This special offer has now been extended to Monday, Aug. 11, 2014!!
Arkansas received its second financial aid agreement for the Class of 2015 on Thursday when four-star offensive lineman Zach Rogers of Hebron (Texas) made it official with the Razorbacks.
The 6-1, 300-pound center committed to the Hogs on July 6, 2013 and never wavered despite receiving other scholarship offers from Texas, Oklahoma, UCLA, Texas Tech and Baylor. He joins four-star quarterback and longtime Arkansas commit Ty Storey as Arkansas' second prospect to sign a financial aid agreement since the signing period began on August 1.
"I am very excited to have Zach joining the Razorbacks in January," Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema said in the UA's official announcement. "We think he is one of the best offensive linemen in the class of 2015 and shows the mental and physical toughness that we expect our linemen to exhibit on and off the field. Zach continues to demonstrate all of the things that we hold to a higher standard here at Arkansas. Academics, athletic success and social behavior are the backbone of what becoming a Hog is all about and he will be a great addition to our family. Our #TexHogs are continuing to grow and we hope to add more with the rest of the 2015 class."
Rogers, who Rivals.com ranks as the No. 242 prospect in the nation, held a small signing ceremony with family and friends Thursday evening.
"It takes a lot of pressure off and really ties us together," Rogers said of the FAA. "It helps get some of those other people away and kind of let them know that, you know, I'm not going anywhere and that I'm sticking with Arkansas. I'm pretty excited about that."
The dominating senior lineman said even during Arkansas' 3-9 season last fall, it never crossed his mind to start looking into backup options.
"If people looked at it from the outside and had no idea what was going on, it probably looked like they were going to be bad for quite a while," Rogers said. "But seeing what they've done in the offseason with Coach (Ben) Herbert, the coaches they have and the changes the players have had, I think they've got a good deal going.
"It's also hard for a coach to come in and install an entirely different style of offense with players that were recruited for another system like Coach B had to do. It's just going to take a little bit of time, but Arkansas football will be back on top."
Rogers, who was forced to miss his junior year of football with a tear in his knee, said his focus is now on the upcoming season and helping the Razorbacks recruit other top targets.
"Mostly the guys I've talked to have been other offensive linemen," he said. "Keaton Sutherland is one that obviously didn't work out, but I know Jalin Barnett, the kid out of Oklahoma, Coach Pittman really likes him and I've been talking to him.
"I just want to make sure those guys know what kind of guy Coach (Sam) Pittman is. Coming from an offensive lineman, talking about things he's done with linemen in the past, I think it's a huge deal. I know I would always listen to what another player says instead of a coach, because a coach is always going to say stuff like that. Players are a little easier to listen to sometimes."
There's a chance Arkansas could land its third financial aid agreement relatively soon as Fort Smith (Ark.) Northside defensive end Daytrieon Dean also plans to graduate in December.
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