SAN JOSE — When Charlie Rogers caught a 10-yard touchdown pass Saturday night, the San Jose State sideline erupted. It wasn’t just the first touchdown of his collegiate career. it was the first time he’d ever touched the ball.
It couldn’t have come at a more crucial time.
For the fans inside Spartan Stadium, the touchdown put SJSU up 14 points heading into the fourth quarter. But for Rogers and his teammates, the touchdown was the culmination of the hard work and sacrifice the walk-on fullback/linebacker had made in the three seasons he suited up for the Spartans.
“Charlie Rogers might be the most-liked guy on our football team,” said SJSU coach Brent Brennan after the Spartans’ 42-21 homecoming win over Utah State Saturday night. He’s all about the right things. He’s a great dude, he works incredibly hard. He just keeps showing up and everyone loves him.”
Rogers is from Loomis, but his football roots are in San Jose. His father, Daryl Rogers played three seasons for the San Jose Sabercats of the Arena Football League from 1995-97. His grandfather, Chuck Rogers, was a lineman for SJSU from 1964-66.
After high school, Rogers was recruited by San Diego State to play fullback. But after the Aztecs informed him that the position was being eliminated from their offense, Rogers decided to transfer and walk on at SJSU to play linebacker in 2021.
“When I was talking to (Brennan), I just wanted an opportunity,” Rogers said. “I felt that if I was given the shot, I could prove myself and that’s one of the big reasons I wanted to come here as I felt like they would give me that opportunity.”
Rogers’ first two seasons as a Spartan saw him play mostly on special teams and in spots as a linebacker on defense. But before this season started, Brennan asked Rogers if he wanted to get more involved on the offensive side of the ball at fullback.
“I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to play and be a part of this team playing linebacker,” Rogers said. “That just got my foot in the door here and I’ve just been trying to do anything I can to help the team. It’s a really funny moment coming full circle getting back to playing fullback.”
Rogers playing time started to increase in the past three games since the Spartans’ running game has become the focal point of the offense. In that time, with Rogers serving as lead blocker at fullback. SJSU has averaged 204 rushing yards per game and has scored 10 touchdowns.
Rogers draws inspiration from another Bay Area fullback just a few miles north of Spartan Stadium.
“Kyle Juszczyk is someone I’ve looked up to since getting to college and becoming a fullback,” Rogers said, referring to the 49ers’ stalwart. “He’s someone who can block, but also catch the ball and be an athlete. That’s someone I try to emulate my game after.”
Brennan credits Rogers’s leadership and positive energy with helping SJSU through its 1-5 start.
“The players are the ones carrying our energy and they’re doing a great job at that,” Brennan said. “The players are responsible for how we’re responding right now and that’s the really cool thing about it.”
A one-two punch
The Spartans’ duo of running backs Kairee Robinson and Quali Conley have combined for 425 yards and six rushing touchdowns in the last two games.
Against Utah State, Robinson rushed for 102 yards and scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) while Conley rushed for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
Robinson’s late fourth-quarter touchdown made it seven consecutive games that he rushed for a score, breaking Tyler Ervin’s school record of six consecutive games.
“Kairee is a baller,” quarterback Chevan Cordeiro said. “All you gotta do is keep getting him the ball and he’s going to come up with positive yards.”
An emphasis on creating turnovers
SJSU’s defense has gone through its share of growing pains this season, but an emphasis on creating turnovers has helped a young defense get better as the season has progressed.
“The coaches have been telling us that our playmakers need to make plays,” said linebacker Jordan Pollard, who finished with a team-high 10 tackles and an interception against Utah State.
In the last three games, the Spartans have intercepted four passes and recovered three fumbles. SJSU is currently a top-20 team in the nation in turnover margin.
Up next
The Spartans play next Saturday at Hawaii. It will be a homecoming for Cordeiro, a Honolulu native who played four seasons at UH before transferring to SJSU in 2022.