Michigan State University Athletics
Charles Rogers Named Biletnikoff Award Winner
12/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 12, 2002
ORLANDO, Fla. - Michigan State All-American Charles Rogers, who caught a school-record 68 passes for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2002, has been named recipient of the Biletnikoff Award, which is presented annually to college football's top receiver by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. The announcement was made live on ESPN's College Football Awards Show Thursday night at the Atlantic Dance Hall on Disney's Boardwalk.
Arizona State's Shaun McDonald and Nevada's Nate Burleson were the other finalists for the 2002 Biletnikoff Award. Rogers becomes the third Big Ten player to be named recipient of the Biletnikoff Award since its inception in 1994, joining Penn State's Bobby Engram (1994) and Ohio State's Terry Glenn (1995).
In 2002, Rogers became only the second receiver to 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 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 is 21-yard TD reception in the second quarter vs. Northwestern (Sept. 28), 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 honor," said Rogers. "The personal goal I set before the season was to become the best player at my position in the country and things worked out.
"I'm thankful I had the opportunity to pursue individual honors within a team concept. I'm also grateful that I had an opportunity to play in an offense that showcased my talents. I was fortunate to remain healthy this season and that gave me a chance to produce quality numbers.
"I started thinking about this award after Herb Haygood (Denver Broncos rookie) attended last year's College Football Awards Show here in Orlando. Herb took a picture of the Biletnikoff Award and brought it back to me. In fact, Herb told ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit that I'd be here to accept the award in 2002.
"Herb was almost like a player/coach. In many ways, he was like a big brother to me. Herb pushed me in practice every day. He wouldn't let me slack off. There's no question that Herb helped me become a better football player."
"Charles Rogers is certainly most deserving of this recognition," Spartan interim head coach Morris Watts said. "In my 42 years of coaching, Charles is arguably the best receiver I've ever been associated with. His rare combination of size and speed is what separates him from the rest.
"From the day that Charles arrived on the MSU campus, he was worked at becoming the best receiver in the country. Charles was a remarkably consistent playmaker, especially when you consider that he was the main focus of every defense he faced in 2002."
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.
"There's no doubt in my mind that Charles Rogers is the best receiver in college football," sophomore quarterback Damon Dowdell said. "He's a big target with sure hands and great speed."
"Charles has the ability to make plays out of nothing. Nobody is better at reacting to the ball in the air than he is. Charles is very aggressive when the ball's in the air and he has the knack for going up over the crowd and getting it. I often went to the sidelines or back to the huddle shaking my head and saying to myself, 'Wow, I can't believe he made that catch.'
"Charles is a big-time player that will have an immediate impact in the National Football League."
The last time Michigan State produced a major award winner came in 1989 when All-America linebacker Percy Snow received both the Butkus and Lombardi Awards.
Biletnikoff Award Recipients
1994 Bobby Engram, Penn State
1995 Terry Glenn, Ohio State
1996 Marcus Harris, Wyoming
1997 Randy Moss, Marshall
1998 Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech
1999 Troy Walters, Stanford
2000 Antonio Bryant, Pittsburgh
2001 Josh Reed, Louisiana State
2002 Charles Rogers, Michigan State
