It's official. Charles Rogers is taking his leave of Spartan Country, forgoing his senior year to enter the NFL Draft. It's safe to say the news of the record-breaking receiver's Monday decision didn't come as a surprise to anyone. Who can blame him for jumping off a sinking ship while there is still time to salvage hopes of football after college?
Although fans will miss the star player next season, Rogers has nowhere to go on a rebuilding team, and he shouldn't be asked to continue risking injury for a team that shows little promise.
Rogers has virtually wasted his talents on the Spartans, who posted a 4-8 record that includes two of the worst losses in school history, 61-7 at Penn State on Saturday and 49-3 at Michigan on Nov. 2. Five of the team's eight losses were by 21 points or more.
Rogers started the season as a Heisman Trophy hopeful, but the rest of the team's failure to perform to its potential became an obstacle for those aspirations.
The Green and White's season seemed more black and blue each week. The team's on-field performances, or lack thereof, paled in comparison to the off-field embarrassments, which included team leaders being benched for unspecified reasons and run-ins with the law in addition to a head coach getting fired before the end of the season.
Despite all this, Rogers managed to put up some impressive numbers. He finished the season with 68 catches, 1,351 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. The team's No. 1 receiver broke four MSU career records - receptions with 68, career touchdowns with 27, yards in a game with 270 and receiving yards for a season with 1,470.
He also raised the bar of excellence in the Big Ten and NCAA by scoring at least one receiving touchdown in 14 consecutive games. He is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Trophy for the nation's top receiver.
The only thing Rogers had left to do on the field was to earn a championship ring. But chances of that happening next year were very unlikely given the Spartans' ghastly performance this season - a year they were picked by most national analysts to go to a bowl game.
Rogers has better luck being picked up in the NFL Draft, where he is projected to be a top-10 pick. That opportunity could have easily been ripped away if Rogers had stuck with the Spartans for what will likely be another stinker of a season.
While it might seem it is becoming too common and too dangerous for college athletes to go pro prematurely - given the story of former Spartan Marcus Taylor - Rogers is ready to go the next level and pursue his dream.
Rogers maintained his focus and kept his character unblemished in a season where controversy spread like a disease through the Spartan locker room. He also made his decision with more than his own career dream in mind. He said the choice is right for himself and his children.
We can't wait to watch Rogers begin his pursuit of the most elusive of rings - a Super Bowl band.
Good luck, Chuck. We hope you catch your dreams.
