University of Richmond Athletics
Justin Rogers Named CAA Football Defensive Player Of The Week
Oct. 26, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Junior DB Justin Rogers earned his fifth career CAA Football weekly award Monday as he was honored as the league's Defensive Player of the Week. Rogers had five tackles, an interception and recovered a fumble in No. 1 Richmond's 34-12 win over No. 14 Massachusetts Saturday.
After finishing second in the FCS with seven interceptions last season, the Buck Buchanan Award nominee picked off his second pass of 2009 and the ninth of his career in Saturday's win. The two-time All-America selection also logged a season-high five tackles and pounced on a UMass fumble as the Spiders' forced a season-high seven turnovers (six interceptions).
Richmond netted 21 points off the Minutemen miscues, while the defense limited UMass to just 62 yards rushing - 87 yards below their season average.
The defense, which broke a school record with 29 interceptions last season, had just five coming in to Saturday's game. Eight different Spiders share in the team's 11 picks this season, including two each for Rogers, senior SS Michael Ireland and senior NG Parker Miles.
With five CAA Football weekly honors in his career, Rogers is tied for the second-most under the CAA Football banner (since 2007) with James Madison KR Scotty McGee and William & Mary RB Jonathan Grimes, who was awarded the league's Offensive Player of the Week this week. The six honors by former JMU QB Rodney Landers leads the league.
Richmond has garnered a league-leading five CAA Football weekly awards this season, including two by senior QB Eric Ward.
The top-ranked Spiders (7-0, 5-0), one of 10 undefeated teams in Division I football, is on the road Saturday at South Division-foe Towson. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.