Fansided

Whatever happened to these 30 forgotten college football superstars?

By Dante Pryor

Peter Warrick #9 of the Florida State Seminoles: (Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport)
Peter Warrick #9 of the Florida State Seminoles: (Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 2: Wide Receiver Charles Rogers #1 of the Michigan State Spartans ran the ball against the Michigan Wolverines during the game on November 2, 2002, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won 49-3. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – NOVEMBER 2: Wide Receiver Charles Rogers #1 of the Michigan State Spartans ran the ball against the Michigan Wolverines during the game on November 2, 2002, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan won 49-3. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Getty Images) /

11. Charles Rogers, wide receiver, Michigan State

Injuries, substance abuse issues, and legal troubles were all part of the life and career of the late Charles Rogers’ professional football career. Rogers died of liver failure while waiting for a transplant in 2019.

Those who saw Rogers either in high school or at Michigan State knew he was a physical marvel to watch. Unfortunately, injuries derailed Rogers early in his career, and it never got back on track. After being selected second overall in 2003, Rogers played just five games before a clavicle injury ended his rookie season.

After returning from the clavicle, Rogers would break his other clavicle on the game’s third play against the Bears. The second clavicle injury is when the substance addiction began. Rogers became addicted to the Vicodin prescribed after both clavicle injuries.

Though Rogers’ star burned out quickly, the two years he played for Michigan State were two of the greatest seasons in Spartans history and Big Ten history. In only two seasons, Rogers is MSU’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns.

As a junior, Rogers was a unanimous All-American, Fred Biletnikoff Award and Paul Warfield Trophy winner and broke Randy Moss’s record catching a touchdown in 14 consecutive games.

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