It was perhaps the worst-kept secret in college football. But on Monday, MSU star receiver Charles Rogers made it official.
He is going pro.
Rogers confirmed the speculation during the team's year-end banquet.
"I felt like today was a better day because I have my family and my teammates here," the 6-foot-4, 205-pound junior said after receiving the team's most valuable player award.
"If you're projected to be a top-10 pick, you can't say no."
Although Rogers was quick to point out during the past several weeks he hadn't made up his mind about whether he would forfeit his last year of college eligibility and enter the NFL Draft, there wasn't an analyst - or teammate - who expected him to stay.
"We saw it coming. We knew he was one of the best receivers and athletes in the country," sophomore free safety Jason Harmon said. "It's good to see him go. We're behind him."
Interim head coach Morris Watts was among those nearly confirming the star receiver's departure before the season's end.
"Do I expect it to be his last ballgame? I don't doubt a bit that that's a strong consideration of his," Watts said a week ago in reference to the season closer.
"In all my 42 years of coaching I haven't been around any better. And I've been around some pretty good receivers -- about five first-round draft choices."
Despite the Spartans' dismal 4-8 season - marred further by junior quarterback Jeff Smoker's entry into rehab, senior tailback Dawan Moss' suspension for allegedly resisting and obstructing a police officer, the firing of former head coach Bobby Williams and numerous problems on the field - Rogers was a shining star.
He finished the season with 68 receptions, 1,351 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, breaking 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 set a Big Ten and NCAA record for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass at 14 and is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Trophy for the nation's top receiver.
There was, frankly, little more he could do at MSU - except, perhaps, win a championship.
"The biggest thing is I wanted the ring," Rogers said Nov. 19. "I fell short of the ring. That's probably what hurts me the most."
But Monday, Rogers remained confident he was making the right choice - for himself and his two children, Charnae, 5, and Charvze, 3.
"I felt like it was the best decision for me and my family," Rogers said at the banquet. "It was my time to go."
Staff writer Romando J. Dixson contributed to this report.
