University of Richmond Athletics
Rogers Honored As Sports Network National Defensive Player Of The Week
10/05/2010 | Football
Oct. 5, 2010
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - Senior CB Justin Rogers was honored Monday as the National Defensive Player of the Week, selected by the Sports Network/Fathead.com. The three-time All-America and Buchanan Award nominee was also the CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week.
Rogers earned his first national weekly honor after making his presence felt in a number of ways in the No. 11 Spiders 41-19 home win over Coastal Carolina Saturday. He intercepted two passes, forced a fumble, recorded five tackles, knocked away a pass and collected 52 yards in punt returns. He set up three of the Spiders' six touchdowns.
The interceptions were the first of the season for Rogers and the 11th and 12th of his standout career, moving him to tied for third on Richmond's all-time list. The first helped set up the Spiders' clinching touchdown - Tyler Kirchoff's 27-yard run with 1:49 left in the game, while the latter was returned 34 yards for a touchdown and capped the scoring in a 41-19 Richmond victory.
That return marked his third career interception returned for a touchdown to set a new Richmond all-time record.
Additionally, one of his punt returns of 44 yards gave the Spiders ideal field position at the Coastal 12-yard line early in the second quarter. Richmond capitalized one play later with a 12-yard TD run from Kirchoff - one of his career-best four TDs on the day - as the Spiders sprinted out to a 20-0 lead.
The National award for Rogers marks his first ever and is the ninth won by the Spiders since 2007 -- former DL Nick Battle (Defensive 2009), former QB Eric Ward (Offensive twice in 2008), former RB Josh Vaughan (Offensive twice in 2008) and former RB Tim Hightower (Offensive three times in 2007).
Richmond is 2-2 and returns to action Saturday at No. 22 New Hampshire. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.
