University of Richmond Athletics
Justin Rogers Selected In 2011 NFL Draft By Buffalo Bills
April 30, 2011
NEW YORK - Richmond cornerback Justin Rogers was drafted Saturday by the Buffalo Bills, selected in the seventh round with the 206th overall pick. Rogers is the fourth Spider drafted in the last four seasons.
Rogers represents Richmond's 37th all-time draftee and is the fourth Spider to be taken by the four-time AFC Champion Buffalo Bills, joining Richmond legends DB Brian Jordan (1989), DB Jeff Nixon (1979) and C Wayne Fowler (1970).
The versatile Rogers was the eighth player chosen in this year's draft by Buffalo, which used the No. 3 overall selection to pick Alabama DT Marcell Dareus. Last season, Buffalo drafted former James Madison LB Arthur Moats, who made an immediate impact in 2010 with 33 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Rogers was a CAA Football First Team pick at both cornerback and punt returner, leading the league in punt return average (12.4 yards), while collecting 48 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles as the league's premier shutdown corner.
The 5-10, 181-pound speedster, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds at the NFL Combine, became the CAA Football career leader in kickoff return yards (2,561) during the 2010 season and also saw action on offense as he rushed five times, caught three passes and was two-for-two passing. He ranks third all-time at Richmond in career interceptions (12).
Rogers became just the second player in the history of CAA Football to be named a First Team All-Conference selection in four-consecutive seasons. The Baton Rouge, La. native garnered FCS All-America honors from the Associated Press and the Sports Network.
Richmond had not had a player drafted since 2000 when RB Tim Hightower (Arizona) and WR Arman Shields (Oakland) were selected in 2008. The following season, DE Lawrence Sidbury was drafted by Atlanta in the fourth round. Hightower and Sidbury remain in the NFL with their original clubs.
Rogers joined Villanova OL Ben Ijalana (Indianapolis in the Second Round) as the two players drafted in 2011 from CAA Football - the 10th-consecutive year the league has boasted multiple draftees.
Former Spider LB Shawn Barber was a fourth-round selection in 1998 when he was drafted by Washington with the 113th overall pick. He stands as the highest Richmond player drafted since RB Barry Redden went in the first round (14th overall) to the Los Angeles Rams in 1982.