Former National and Conference Defensive Player of the week, Garrett Roget, is the Apache football team’s starting strong-side linebacker and with the season coming to an end, he hopes the team could pull off a bowl game win.
Born in Albuquerque, N.M., Roget has been playing football for years.
“I’ve been playing since first grade,” he said, “so this will be my 14th year.”
His favorite player is former top ten-feared tackler for the NFL, John Lynch. Lynch had over 450 tackles in his career and was easily, according to the NFL, one of the most feared defensive players.
Being a linebacker, Roget has played a little bit of offense but has been mainly a defensive player since he was young. At Arlington Grace Prep, where he attended high school, Roget lettered on his varsity football team all four years, but only started two of those seasons.
Playing for TJC now and wearing the number 39, he was somewhat scouted for the team.
“I was scouted a little, but I walked on,” he said. “My brothers went to school here so I was familiar with the program and the coaches.”
Although playing at this level can be tough, Roget has been lucky not to suffer any career-ending injuries.
“I broke my hand last year and got jersey finger in the spring, that’s where the tendon peels off the bone in your finger,” he said.
The end of the regular season is fast approaching and he and the other players are “sort of” pleased with the way the season has gone and is going to end.
“I hate losing any game,” Roget said, “but it’s an improvement from last year’s season.”
Having an “undecided” major, he is hoping to continue his football career somewhere else when he is done at TJC.
“I don’t know for sure if I will play somewhere else, but I would like to,” he said.
The regular scheduled season will come to an end for the Apaches on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3 p.m. at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, and with an overall record of 6-2 (as of Oct. 24).
The Apaches are looking for a playoff berth and a possible junior college bowl game appearance.
