Detroit - As Charles Rogers stepped out from behind a closed door on Ford Field's concourse level, camera bulbs popped and hundreds of heads turned to catch a glimpse of the Saginaw native and former Spartan star clad in Honolulu blue and silver.
"It's nice for me, being a prospect from Michigan," said Rogers, while sitting down to sign autographs. "I get a lot of support from the hometown people."
Rogers says he takes his new fanfare in stride, adjusting to the transition from an collegiate underclassman to NFL rookie sensation. It's all a part of being one of the most-heralded wide receiver draft picks in the Motor City.
Like many Lions fans who anticipate watching Rogers on Ford Field's turf for his first season game in September against Arizona, Wayne Walter of Waterford waited in line for two hours for Roger's autograph.
"I didn't have a card or anything for him to sign, so I just took the shirt off my back," Walter said.
"He brings speed and excitement to the team."
Rogers, though nursing a dislocated finger that he endured last week in practice, appeared Sunday before an estimated 27,000 fans who piled into the Lions home field as part of the inaugural Black and Blue scrimmage.
Despite the injury, Rogers isn't having trouble developing as part of the Lion's wide receiver corps. Rogers ran graceful, confident routes in Sunday's practice, though at times looked frustrated with his injury.
"Right now I'm just trying to take it one day at a time," Rogers said. "But I feel comfortable here. This is a great situation for me."
That situation has included familiar faces since Rogers started July 23. It hasn't taken him any time to adjust to his wide receiver coach, Bobby Williams.
"I feel like I can go to him and talk to him about anything," Rogers said. "We've had a chemistry since college and he has done a good job here making me feel at home."
While Rogers played at MSU when Williams was head coach, he rewrote the single-season record books in 2001 for receptions (67), receiving yards (1,470), touchdown receptions in a season (14) and receiving yards in a single game with 270 yards against Fresno State in the 2001 Silicon Valley Bowl.
Rogers won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top collegiate receiver for the 2002 season and was a Heisman candidate until MSU's season soured and Williams was sent packing.
"Charles has done a good job of picking up everything," Williams said. "He has a ways to go, but he'll get to where we need him to be by the time the season starts."
Where Williams and other members of the Lions coaching staff, including new head coach Steve Mariucci, would like Rogers to be on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Joey Harrington. Rogers is all but certain to start for Detroit at wide receiver.
"Charles is doing a very good job learning all the positions and plays," Mariucci said. "He showed us good recall from mini-camps to this point and we expect that to continue."
Mariucci added that Rogers' athleticism and speed have made him a special talent - even without having played a game as a professional.
"He's a versatile player and an important part of this team," Mariucci said. "And he has proven that already."
Rogers is quickly adjusting to life as an NFL superstar and just as easily making the transition from big man on campus to rookie. But his confidence and swagger haven't gotten lost in the shuffle.
"The future in Detroit is going to be great," Rogers said. "Just wait."
J. Ryan Mulcrone can be reached at mulcron3@msu.edu.
