6/19/2020 football Edit

Catching up with ... Corey Rogers

Tom Dienhart • BoilerUpload

GoldandBlack.com, Associate Editor

Corey Rogers earned 1991 Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors after being Purdue's second-leading rusher with 502 yards.

As far as recruits go, Corey Rogers was one of the biggest Purdue landed in the last 30 years.

Coming out of Leo High in Chicago, Rogers had his choice of schools but opted to be part of Jim Colletto's first recruiting class in West Lafayette. Rogers came to Purdue as a prep All-American, having run for 1,967 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior at Leo.

Rogers enjoyed a strong debut at Purdue in 1991, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors after being the Boilermakers' second-leading rusher with 502 yards and five touchdowns in a season shortened to just nine games because of injury. The sky seemed to be limit. But then, he was academically ineligible in 1992.

The 5-11, 205-pound Rogers returned and played on some solid teams from 1993-95 when he teamed with Mike Alstott in the backfield. Rogers ran for 746 yards in 1993 and a career-high 764 in 1994 with 10 rushing TDs. He had 424 rushing yards and eight TDs as a senior in 1995.

Rogers still ranks ninth in Purdue history in rushing with 2,436 yards (5.0 ypc) and 27 touchdowns. He also caught 41 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns.

GoldandBlack.com caught up with Rogers.

GoldandBlack.com: How did you end up at Purdue after being the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year?

Rogers: My high school coach at Leo High graduated and played at Purdue, Robert Foster. Bless his soul. Every year, we would go to the Indiana-Purdue game. He would take a couple of players with him. Before I had had an opportunity to go anywhere to visit, I told him I was going to go to Purdue. I had an opportunity to go to Notre Dame, Illinois—my home state school. A lot of people were upset I didn’t go to Illinois. But I visited there, UNLV—a fun visit—and Purdue.

GoldandBlack.com: Talk about your debut season in 1991 when you were the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Rogers: I was recruited by Coach (Bobby) Turner. I had no idea I would have the type of start to my career that I did. I just played hard. I was fortunate and happy to start as a freshman.

GoldandBlack.com: What was the highlight of your Purdue career?

Rogers: I just liked being associated with Purdue, being a part of it. I just wish the outcome could have been a little better in regards to me being able to continue in athletics, especially since I thought that was an avenue that I would be able to pursue afterwards. Unfortunately, I didn't finish my degree. I was three classes away from my degree in psychology. I ended up being ineligible my sophomore year but came back. It was a learning lesson and I grew.

GoldandBlack.com: What former teammates do you stay in touch with?

Rogers: A lot of them. It’s so much easier now with Facebook and social media. I just spoke to my roommate Scott Green. I stay in touch with Matt Pike. I speak to Pat Johnson. Arlee Connors, Ikee Dozier. Galen Morrow. A lot of guys I may not speak directly with, but we are on Facebook together.

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Corey Rogers still ranks ninth in Purdue history in rushing with 2,436 yards.

GoldandBlack.com: What are your memories of Coach Colletto?

Rogers: I can't say anything other than goodness. I wish we would have had a better relationship. We had our differences. And things got rocky at times. I just wish we could have won more games and gone to a bowl. I appreciate all that Coach Colletto did.

GoldandBlack.com: What was it like to play in the same backfield as Mike Alstott?

Rogers: That’s my buddy. It was wonderful to play with him. We played against each other in high school. Eric Gray was my freshman roommate and was one of his blockers at Joliet Catholic. Me and Mike hung out before he came to Purdue and while he was at Purdue. But we haven’t talked much since we left Purdue.

GoldandBlack.com: Where do you live now?

Rogers: I live in Colorado. I used to work for the Department of Corrections here. Now I work for Denver Health Hospital.

GoldandBlack.com: When were you last at Purdue?

Rogers: The last game I went to was vs. Iowa about four years ago. They have the big press box now. Very impressive. And they have the new football facility now. It was nice. Mollenkopf was new when I was there. They have done a lot to improve things. It’s very impressive. It’s lovely.

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