Nash Nance made his first pass to Da’Rick Rogers for Calhoun on Tuesday afternoon.

Instead of throwing the football to the big-time wide receiver for the first time since transfering from Darlington, Nance tossed his teammate something different: a University of Georgia hat that would let the world know Rogers’ intentions to commit to the Bulldogs.

Rogers returned the favor, reaching down and giving his quarterback a Vanderbilt University cap, announcing Nance would go to Nashville following his senior season.

It was a moment both appeared anxious for.

Surrounded by friends and families, Nance and Rogers snuck in time to rehearse what they would say to the cameras, mouthing silently who they would thank and what they had to say.

With no helmet on or pads strapped to their chest, this was the biggest moment of their football careers.

While Rogers and Nance haven’t played a regular season game together for Calhoun coming into their senior season, the two friends and teammates decided to make their college choices together.

Nance pointed to the proximity to home and academics when choosing Vanderbilt, saying, “You can’t measure a Vanderbilt degree.”

The Vanderbilt football program has taken big strides in recent years under head coach Bobby Johnson, including winning the Music City Bowl last year.

Rogers said the chance to compete in the Southeastern Conference and the relationships he formed with the Georgia staff made his decision simple, saying the staff looked at him as, “Not just a football player, but as a person.”

The Calhoun wide receiver said he had more than 50 offers coming into the day and calling Florida’s Urban Meyer and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullins to tell them he would play for UGA would be the most difficult of them all.

It wasn’t long before an eventual UGA-Vanderbilt game between Nance and Rogers was mentioned. Nance acknowleged their friendship, one so deep he called Rogers his brother when he introduced him, would end when the two were on the same field.

“It’s a love-hate relationship, that’s probably what it will be,” Nance said. “I’ll pull for him until they play us and I hope he does the same for me.”

Rogers wasn’t as diplomatic, saying it would be a competition through and through when they would play on opposite sides of the hedges.

“As soon as I score my first touchdown I’m going to run over to the other sideline and let him know I’m here,” Rogers said.

The two have become close through football, with Rogers attending camps with Nance and spending time with him away from the game.

While Rogers and Nance will compete Saturdays down the road, the two will face an up hill road to get Calhoun back to the Georgia Dome for the state finals this year.

Nance was relieved to have the college selection process behind him and eager to start his career for Calhoun.

“Now that I got this over with I get to focus on high school football,” Nance said. “I want to win a state championship and then go to Vanderbilt.”

Rogers, who was part of the team last year that got to the finals and fell to Buford, said he was ready to get to practice. “It feels good to get back to the field,” Rogers said. “The football field is my second home next to the Nance’s.”