Rogers Named CNNSI.com All-American

Dec. 9, 2002

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State wide receiver Charles Rogers, who caught a school-record 68 passes for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2002, has been named first-team All-American by CNNSI.com. The 26-man first team features nine players from the Big Ten Conference.

It marks the second-straight year that a Spartan has earned first-team All-America honors from CNNSI.com, with Herb Haygood being selected as the kick returner in 2001. The web site has selected All-America Teams since 1999.

In 2002, Rogers became only the second receiver in MSU history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, joining Plaxico Burress who accomplished the feat in 1998-99. His receiving yards and TD catches represent the second-best single-season totals in Spartan history. Rogers, one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, led the Big Ten in receiving yards (112.6 per game) and TD receptions while ranking second in receptions (5.67 per game) during the regular season. He completed the regular season ranked among the NCAA leaders in receiving yards (ninth) and receptions (t-25th). Fifty-seven of his 68 receptions (84 percent) resulted in first downs.

With his 21-yard TD reception in the second quarter vs. Northwestern, Rogers set both NCAA and Big Ten records by catching a TD pass in his 13th-consecutive regular-season game and his 14th-straight game overall. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior from Saginaw, Mich., had six 100-yard receiving games in 2002, tying the single-season mark he set as a sophomore. He had a season-best 175 yards vs. Notre Dame (seven catches).

"This is a tremendous personal honor plus the recognition is positive for Michigan State's football program," Rogers said.

"Charles Rogers showed time and again this season why he's the most talented wide receiver in the country," CNNSI.com's Stewart Mandel said, "wowing everyone with such highlight-reel catches as the memorable back-of-the-end zone leap against Notre Dame. At nearly 20 yards per catch, no one is a better deep threat. To have the kind of season he did, in light of everything going on with his team and, in particular, his quarterback, was quite impressive."

Rogers, who announced Nov. 25 his decision to enter the 2003 National Football League Draft, finished his career ranked among MSU's all-time leaders in touchdown receptions (first with 27), receiving yards (second with 2,821), yards per catch (second at 20.9) and receptions (third with 135). He produced a school-record 12 career 100-yard receiving games, including a Spartan single-game record 270 yards vs. Fresno State (10 receptions) in the 2001 Silicon Valley Football Classic. Rogers accounted for 3,108 career all-purpose yards and his 29 career touchdowns rank seventh on MSU's career chart.

The last time Michigan State produced a consensus All-American came in 1989 when offensive tackle Bob Kula and linebacker Percy Snow earned first-team honors.

2002 CNNSI.com All-Americans (First Team)

OFFENSEQB: Carson Palmer (Sr.), Southern CalRB: Larry Johnson (Sr.), Penn StateRB: Willis McGahee (So.), Miami (Fla.)WR: Charles Rogers (Jr.), Michigan StateWR: Rashaun Woods (Jr.), Oklahoma StateTE: Dallas Clark (Jr.), IowaOL: Brett Romberg (Sr.), Miami (Fla.)OL: Jordan Gross (Sr.), UtahOL: Vince Manuwai (Sr.), HawaiiOL: Bruce Nelson (Sr.), IowaOL: Shawn Andrews (So.), Arkansas
DEFENSEDL: Terrell Suggs (Jr.), Arizona StateDL: David Pollack (So.), GeorgiaDL: Michael Haynes (Sr.), Penn StateDL: Rien Long (Jr.), Washington StateLB: E.J. Henderson (Sr.), MarylandLB: Teddy Lehman (Sr.), OklahomaLB: Matt Wilhelm (Sr.), Ohio StateDB: Mike Doss (Sr.), Ohio StateDB: Shane Walton (Sr.), Notre DameDB: Jim Leonhard (So.), WisconsinDB: Terence Newman (Sr.), Kansas State
SPECIAL TEAMSK: Nate Kaeding (Jr.), IowaP: Mark Mariscal (Sr.), ColoradoKR: Derek Abney (Jr.), KentuckyPR: DeJuan Groce (Sr.), Nebraska

CNNSI.com Player of the Year: Carson Palmer, Southern Cal
CNNSI.com Coach of the Year: Jim Tressel, Ohio State

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