One of the best parts of college football is that it’s constantly changing. Players can’t stick around for more than four seasons, and so every year fans are introduced to a new set of rising stars who seem to disappear as quickly as they arrived. Of course, such a setup can make it difficult to remember players, especially when their careers quickly dissipate in the NFL.
With that in mind, we have put together a list of 30 college football legends who you may have forgotten all about because their star performance in college never translated to the NFL. Get ready to take a trip down memory lane with these forgotten legends of college football.
Charles Rogers, Michigan State
The Detroit Lions made Michigan State wide receiver, Charles Rogers, the second overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. At the time, few people disagreed with the pick. In his two seasons with the Spartans, Rogers broke numerous receiving records and finished with 2,821 yards and 27 touchdowns. As suggested in the Magazine cover above, Rogers was thought to be the best player in college football — regardless of position. But issues with injuries and a subsequent addiction to painkillers resulted in his demise. In three NFL seasons, Rogers totaled just 36 receptions and was out of the league by 2005.
Fast forward 14 years and Rogers now works at an auto repair shop in Fort Myers, Florida. Rogers admitted he didn’t know much about cars when he started, but he’s worked his way up to being the shop’s general manager. He hopes to one day get back into football, as a recruiter or high school coach.
