Don Rogers

Don Rogers is regarded as one of the top safeties in UCLA history.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 206-pound Rogers, a native of Texarkana, Ark., who grew up in Sacramento, attended Notre Del Rio High School before going to U.C.L.A., where he majored in history and was a standout safety. In four seasons, he averaged over 100 tackles a season, and he was second in the Pacific-10 Conference with seven interceptions as a senior. He was the most valuable player in the 1982 Rose Bowl, making 11 unassisted tackles in the victory over Michigan.

He led the Bruins in tackles three straight seasons. He played for the Bruins from 1980-1983 and was selected All-Pacific-10 and All-American in 1983. He was voted UCLA's MVP and received the school's Best Leadership Award in 1983. He led the Bruins to two straight Rose Bowl appearances and was credited with 16 tackles and two interceptions and was voted the co-Player of the Game in the 1983 Rose Bowl. He still ranks second on the UCLA career chart for tackles with 405. He led the 1983 team with seven interceptions and is tied for fourth on the career interceptions list with 14, including one for a touchdown.

Rogers, the 18th player taken in the 1984 National Football League draft, started 14 of the 15 games he played in his rookie season, missing one game and part of another with a shoulder injury.

In his first regular-season game, at Seattle, he forced a fumble and made a game-high 12 tackles. He finished the season with 105 tackles.

Last season, he ranked third on the team, behind the linebackers Tom Cousineau and Eddie Johnson, with 109 tackles.

He played two professional seasons before his untimely death in June of 1986.