"When I watched the Citrus Bowl, I pictured myself in Michigan State's green and white," he said. "But when I watched Michigan-Alabama, I could picture myself playing for Michigan. When I watched Florida State, I could picture myself with Florida State too."

After many sleepless nights, the 18-year-old Rogers (6-4, 190, 4.4) has chosen Michigan State over Tennessee, Michigan, Florida State and UCLA. Rogers, who has been compared to Minnesota Vikings star Randy Moss, caught 40 passes for 870 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior.

The Spartans are building a trememdous recruiting class. Already they have a commitment from nationally rated quarterback Jeff Smoker of Manheim-Central, Pa.

"I was comfortable with Jeff Smoker coming into the program," Rogers said. "Jeff told me 'Do what's best for you.' I felt like this is the right time to go. It was a real tough decision, but I feel that Michigan State is the better opportunity for me with Gari (Scott) and Plaxico (Burress) leaving as receivers. I feel that I can be that go-to guy now. I feel that the program is on the rise, the university is on the rise as well and I can help put them in the Top 5."

Rogers spoke to Burress about his decision. "We talked on the phone a few times and he talked about the things he did and the way they became a family. I think I will be there for four years, God willing. It's all up to Him. When I visited State last weekend, the coaches and players were real cool and I just see myself wearing the green and white," Rogers said.

Rogers missed part of the high school basketball season after he was stabbed with a meat fork in the back, which collapsed his right lung.

"After I visited and Coach Watts (offensive coordinator Morris Watts) explained to me how they would use me in the offense, I felt good about the situation," Rogers said. "When I go to Michigan State, I plan on being a threat."

MSU will have a new quarterback next season in junior Ryan Van Dyke.

"Ryan was so excited. He wanted another receiver. I felt like he was honest with me as well," Rogers said. "I'm ready to play with Ryan Van Dyke.

"I have known for the last couple of days that I would go to Michigan State. I had some second thoughts, but then last night there were no second thoughts. I felt like Michigan State has been honest with me since Day One. It was important to stay close to my family."

Latest football commitments
Database search. Also check the FANSonly.com's recruiting index and football recruiting page.

Independents:
Notre Dame has a verbal from outstanding receiver Jovan Witherspoon of Fort Wayne-Bishop Luers, Ind., over Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue and Virginia Tech. He caught 69 passes for 1,175 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior. The Irish also committed defensive back Preston Jackson of Tampa-Hillsborough, Fla., over Duke, Virginia Tech and Virginia; and receiver Omar Jenkins of Dallas-Jesuit, Tex., over Stanford and Northwestern.

Central Florida received commitments from defensive backs Javan Camon of Ft. Lauderdale-Charlotte, Fla., and Alphonzo Hopkins of Cairo, Ga; plus receiver Marcus Glover of Ocala-Vanguard, Fla., over Indiana.

Louisiana Tech received a pledge from tight end/defensive lineman Aaron Capps of Mesquite, Tex., over Northwestern and Purdue; and defensive lineman Chris Van Hoy of Arlington-Grace Prep, Tex.

Big Ten:
Standout defensive lineman Will Smith of Utica-Proctor, NY., committed to the Ohio State Buckeyes over Boston College, Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech and Michigan. The Bucks also have national-quality offensive lineman Shane Olivea of Long Beach-Lawrence, NY., who chose them over Georgia Tech. Olivea, who had earlier decommitted from the Yellow Jackets, also had interest in Syracuse, Tennessee and Iowa. Ohio State added linebacker Thomas Matthews of Ft. Lauderdale-Dillard, Fla., over Wisconsin, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt.

Iowa has a commitment from defensive back Bennie Sapp of Ft. Lauderdale-Boyd Anderson, Fla., over interest from Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois and Pittsburgh. Defensive back C.J. Johnson of Blinn JC, Tex., decommitted from Iowa for Texas Tech.

Minnesota received commitments from running back Marcus Sanders of Ravenna, Ohio; defensive lineman Brandon Harston of Crowley, Tex; Larry Anglin, a running back from Compton College, Calif; and linebacker Darrell Reid of Freehold-Boro, NJ., who decommitted from Ohio State.

Northwestern picked up receiver El DaSheon Nix of Sandusky, Ohio; defensive lineman Colby Clark of Austin-Westlake, Tex., over TCU and BYU; and defensive back Jarvis Adams of Tallahassee-Bodby, Fla.

Indiana has reported commitments from defensive linemen Jodi Clemons of Lansing, Mich; and John Lumpkin of Warren-Harding, Ohio, over Syracuse and Michigan.

Defensive lineman Kalvin Barrett of Spring Valley-Monte Vista, Calif., chose the Wisconsin Badgers over Nebraska, Arizona, Colorado and Ohio State. Offensive lineman Marcus Johnson of Lakewood-Mayfair, Calif., decommitted from Wisconsin to UNLV.

Michigan State has running back Jason Harmon of Ironton, Ohio. Others were Pittsburgh, Minnesota and Indiana.

Big 12:
Defensive lineman Willy Judd and linebacker Justin Eillers, both from Butte CC, Calif; plus defensive back Harold Clewis of Missouri City-Elkins, Tex., are headed to Iowa State. The Cyclones also picked up linebacker Tyrone Tucker of CC San Francisco, Calif., who decommitted from Texas Tech; linebacker Brent Nash of Beverly Hills, Calif., over Army, Colorado and Colorado State; defensive back Anthony Forrest of Fort Worth-Diamond, Tex., and 330-pound offensive lineman Lorenzo White of Blinn JC, Tex.

Offensive lineman Chris Sipes of Beckville, Tex; running back Quantaa Jackson of Blinn CC, Tex; and tight end Jonathan Evans of Duncanville, Tex., will play at Baylor. The Bears are also set for linebacker Robert Forney of Lufkin, Tex; defensive back Marcus Stenix of Big Lake-Reagan County, Tex; defensive back Matt Johnson of Pearland, Tex; and quarterback Aaron Karas of Spring, Tex.

Kicker Cody Scates of Tyler-Lee, Tex., chose Texas A&M, after decommitting from Colorado. Chris Sims of Garland, Tex., will kick for Texas A&M over SMU and Navy, which both offered scholarships. The Aggies committed linebacker LaBrandon Sheppard of Lufkin, Tex., over Oklahoma and Baylor.

Offensive lineman Clarence Laws of Belle Glades-Central, Fla., committed to Kansas.

Defensive lineman/tight end Terrell Mills of Raytown, Mo., is set for Missouri, after decommitting from Kansas State. The Tigers also gained offensive lineman Milton Phifer of South Grand Prairie, Tex., over Oklahoma and Syracuse; receiver Shirdonya Mitchell of Arlington-Sam Houston, Tex., over Iowa State, Oklahoma and Minnesota; and offensive lineman Tony Clinker of Plantation, Fla.

Nebraska is the choice of defensive back Adrian Mayes of Houston-Forest Brook, Tex., over Oklahoma, Colorado, Tennessee and Miami (Fla.).

Texas Tech has a verbal from Joe Norman, a linebacker from Midland-Lee, Tex. Joe has two brothers playing Division I-A football -- John, who will be a senior defensive back at TT, and Josh, a junior running back at Oklahoma. TT also picked up quarterback Jason Winn of Granada Hills, Calif., over Oklahoma and Colorado State; defensive back C.J. Johnson of Blinn JC, Tex., who decommitted from Iowa; offensive lineman Dylan Gandy of Pflugerville, Tex; and running back Jerone Pettus of Roosevelt, NY., who rushed for 5,841 yards and 61 touchdowns during his prep career.

Texas received a verbal from offensive lineman Trey Bates of Sugar Land-Elkins, Tex., who decommitted from Baylor; and linebacker Rashad Thomas of Dallas-Carter, Tex.

Oklahoma State has a verbal from Ben Buie, a defensive lineman from Broken Arrow, Okla., over Missouri, TCU and Colorado State. Defensive back Corey Alexander of Houston-Forest Brook, Tex., decommitted from Oklahoma State and is now looking at Kansas, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Iowa and Miami (Fla.). OSU also received a commitment from running back/linebacker Reggie Promise of Fairfield, Tex; defensive back Cashan Clark of Alvarado, Tex; defensive back/receiver Richard Moton of Tulsa-McLain, Okla., over Kansas, Texas A&M and Tulsa; and offensive lineman Clint Gillispie of Arp, Tex., over Baylor.

Kansas State has commitments from defensive back Derrick Yates of Coffeyville CC, Kan; punter Jared Brite of Bakersfield-Centennial, Calif; defensive lineman Mike Johnson of Boulder-Fairview, Colo., over Colorado, Colorado State, Arizona State and Wyoming; and defensive lineman Alax Carrier of Houston-Cy Falls, Tex.

Oklahoma has a pledge from defensive back Darren Stephens of Lewisville, Tex., over UCLA, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Kansas State and Texas A&M.

Big East:
Outstanding tight end Dave Kashetta of Westport-Staples, Conn, is set for Boston College over Miami (Fla.), Syracuse and South Carolina. Others were Georgia Tech and Maryland. Boston College also has linebacker Haven Perkins of Lake Mary, Fla., over Maryland, Virginia and Georgia Tech; tight end Joe Tyburczy of Rutherford-St. Mary, N.J., over North Carolina, Syracuse and Iowa; and receiver Grant Adams of Glen Rock, N.J., over Georgia Tech and Virginia.

West Virginia has receiver Isaac Irby of Delran-Holy Cross, N.J; and quarterback Rasheed Marshall of Pittsburgh-Brashear, Pa./Valley Forge Military Academy, Pa., over Iowa and Wisconsin.

Pittsburgh added standout running back Malcolm Postell of Keyport, N.J., over Syracuse; and tight end Darryl Weston of Pittsburgh-Peabody, Pa., over Kent.

Syracuse signed quarterback Chad Elliott of American River JC, Calif., who had committed, but did not meet entrance requirements at Clemson.

ACC:
Quarterback Travis Thurman of Jacksonville-Bolles School, Fla., verballed to Wake Forest.

Florida State has verbals from offensive linemen David Castillo of Palm Beach-Gardens, Fla., and Bobby Meeks of Aline-Nimitz, Tex; plus linebacker Charles Howard of Lake Butler-Union County, Fla. Top linebacker Kendyll Pope of Lake City-Columbia, Fla., is now set for Florida State after entrance problems with Class 1999. He will be allowed to enroll this semester.

North Carolina State regained a pledge from defensive lineman Pat Winn of Holt, Ala., who had decommited following the coaching change.

Clemson received a commitment from defensive back Leroy Smith of Quincy-Shanks, Fla; defensive back Ronny Delusme of Naples, Fla; and receiver/defensive back Terrance Huey of Marietta, Ga.

Linebacker Keyaron Fox of Atlanta-Westlake, Ga., picked Georgia Tech over Georgia.

Defensive back Jerimiah Chambliss of Largo-Pinellas Park, Fla., committed to Virginia.

Maryland has a commitment from running back Chris Downs of Philadelphia-Malvern Prep, Pa./Valley Forge JC, Pa.

Duke receiver Richmond Flowers is transferring to Division I-AA Chattanooga for his final year. Flowers caught 42 passes for 649 yards and five touchdowns last season.

SEC:
Considered the top offensive-line prospect in the nation, Antonio Hall of Canton-McKinley, Ohio, made a huge commitment in picking the Kentucky Wildcats over Big Ten powers Ohio State and Michigan. The 'Cats also have a commitment from defensive back Earven Flowers of Temple, Tex., over Texas Tech.

Linebacker Jason Rawls of Statesboro, Ga; offensive lineman Danny Martz of Hyattsville-DeMatha Catholic, Md; and defensive lineman Anthony Bryant of Newbern-Sunshine, Ala. picked Alabama. Alabama also received a commitment from star offensive lineman Justin Smiley of Bullock-Southeast Bullock, Ga., and defensive back Chris James of Dougherty, Ala.

Linebacker prospect Derrick Holloway of Sharpsburg-East Coweta, Ga.; running back Ronnie Powell of Jacksonville-Sandalwood, Fla.; and quarterback Sean Jones of Atlanta-Westlake, Ga. pledged to Georgia.

Auburn has commitments from running back Ronnie Brown of Cartersville, Ga., over Tennessee; offensive lineman Ryan Broome of Marietta-Wheeler, Ga., over Central Florida; defensive lineman Marcus Johnson of Jacksonville-Ed White, Fla.; and defensive back Victor Horn of Huntsville-J.O. Johnson, Ala./Hargrave MA, Va., who decommitted from Michigan.

South Carolina added running back/defensive back Jamacia Jackson of Sumter, S.C., over Michigan State. Others were Tennessee, Clemson and Maryland. South Carolina also committed running back Andrae Gause of Conway, S.C; and defensive lineman Carl Smalls of Charleston-St. Andrews, S.C.

Mississippi State received a commitment from defensive back Slovakia Griffith of Magee, Miss; linebacker Jo Jo Scott of Hattiesburg, Miss; and linebacker Jason Clark of Starkville, Miss., who decommitted from South Carolina.

LSU has offensive lineman Daniel Leon of St. Martinville, La.; running back Randall Gay of Brusly, La., and offensive lineman Quentin Jackson of Fork Union Military Academy, Va. LSU also is set for quarterback Marcus Randall of Baton Rouge-Glenn Oaks, La., and defensive lineman Brad West of Gurley-Madison County, Ala.

Offensive lineman Jason Youngs of College of the Canyons, Calif; and receiver/defensive back McKinley Scott of Tunica-Fort Rosa, Miss., verballed to Mississippi.

Tennessee received a commitment from defensive back Tony Campbell of Fork Union Military Academy, Va; and offensive lineman Sean Young of Cohutta-NW Whitfield, Ga., who decommitted from Clemson.

Florida gained touted defensive back Corey Bailey of Hialeah-American, Fla., over interest from Michigan, Florida State and Notre Dame.

Vanderbilt received a commitment from receiver/defensive back Gary Wright of Copperas Cove, Tex., over Kansas, Colorado, Texas Tech and SMU.

Arkansas added runninng back Brandon Holmes of Sandy Springs-North Springs, Ga., over Georgia Tech, Miami, Notre Dame, Indiana, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia. Holmes had verballed to the Hoosiers as a junior before moving from Indiana to Georgia.

C-USA:
Running Back Jesse Grove of Dodge City, Kan., is headed to Houston. Houston also has verbals from defensive lineman Kendrick Goss of Crosby, Tex., and running back Jermain Woodard of Houston-Dobie, Tex. Also joining the Cougars are transfer linebacker Mike Clay of Houston-Aldine Nimitz, Tex./Missouri; and signed defensive lineman Tyrone Green of Itawaba JC, Miss. Houston gained running back Chris Robertson of Denison, Tex., who is transferring from Texas.

Running back Chris Lester of Allan Hancock College, Calif., chose Louisville.

Tulane committed tight end Eddie Robinson of Venice, Calif; defensive lineman Linnis Smith of Tyler-J. Tyler, Tex; and defensive lineman Lonnie Crayton of Springfield-Rutherford, Fla.

Southern Mississippi committed linebacker Sklor Magee of Poplarville, Miss., who had decommitted from LSU; and quarterback Mickey D'Angelo of Long Beach, Miss., over Mississippi. He threw for over 2,600 yards and 29 touchdowns as a senior.

East Carolina has receivers Dexter Davis and Derrick Collier, both from Georgia Military College, Ga.

Pac-10:
Arizona added running back Chris Harris of Elysian Fields, Tex.; plus offensive linemen Chris Johnson and Reggie Sampay, both from Houston-North Shore, Tex. Running back Tremaine Cox of Tucson, Ariz., chose Arizona over Utah, California, Kansas State and Oregon.

Arizona State has verbals from linebacker Eric Keefner of Chicago-DeLaSalle, Ill., over Boston College and Northwestern; running back Terrell Suggs of Chandler-Hamilton, Ariz; running back Derick Arnold of Houston-Milby, Tex., over Florida and Colorado; and offensive/defensive lineman Drew Hodgdon of Palo Alto, Calif., over Michigan State and Colorado State.

Oregon State received a commitment from quarterback Ryan Kanekeberg of Everett-Kamiak, Wash; offensive lineman Matt Brock of Roseburg, Ore; and receiver Chad Johnson of Santa Monica CC, Calif., over San Diego State. Linebacker Justin Burks of Bellflower, Calif., decommitted from the Beavers to UTEP. Oregon State committed offensive lineman Doug Nienhuis of Irvine-Woodbridge, Calif.

Defensive back Hamza Abdullah of Pomona, Calif; defensive back Jason David of Covina-Charter Oak, Calif; and linebacker DeShon Weaver of Compton College, Calif., have chosen Washington State.

National-quality running back and the top prospect in the state, Brandon Royster of Fairfax, Va., chose Stanford over Virginia Tech, Virginia and Notre Dame.

Washington gained touted junior college defensive lineman Marcus Roberson of Mt. SAC, Calif., over Oregon. Others were Michigan State, Missouri, Oregon State, Arizona and Oregon. Washington added defensive back/receiver Robert Maddox of Los Angeles-Verbum Dei, Calif.

Oregon committed kicker/punter Jared Siegel of Carmichael-Jesuit, Calif., over Rice, Northwestern, USC, Brown and Yale. Also joining the Ducks are defensive linemen Josh Atkins of Greshaw, Ore., and Kevin Mack of Oxnard, Calif. Both were non-qualifiers for Class 1999. Standout running back Ryan Shaw of Carlsbad-La Costa Canyon, Calif., chose Oregon as did defensive back Marley Tucker of Long Beach-Poly, Calif; defensive back/running back Sam Cunningham of Los Angeles-Westchester, Calif; and receiver Steve Smith of Carson-Serra, Calif.

USC beat out Michigan, Washington and Colorado for offensive lineman Blair Jones of Newport Harbor, Calif.

Mountain West:
Utah has linebacker A.D. Winters of LaPuente-Bishop Amat, Calif; running back Rob Sirstins of Salt Lake City-Skyline, Utah; and defensive lineman Matt Jenkins of Citrus JC, Calif. Utah added defensive lineman Anton Palepoi of Dixie College, Utah, over Kansas State and Oregon; running back Dameon Hunter of Chaffey College, Calif., over interest from Missouri and Wisconsin; and tight end Cory Dodds of Midvale-Hillcrest, Utah.

Receiver Sean Bowman of Phoenix-Christian, Ariz., and defensive lineman Daniel Gipson of Sacramento CC, Calif., verballed to Wyoming.

Running back Domingo Villarruel of Fort Worth-Diamond Hill, Tex., picked New Mexico over Iowa State.

BYU has a commitment from Judd Anderton, a defensive lineman from Tacoma-Curtis, Wash., over interest from Oregon and Washington.

UNLV has a commitment from receiver Charles James of San Diego Mesa College, Calif., over interest from Indiana, San Jose State and San Diego State; offensive lineman Marcus Johnson of Lakewood-Mayfair, Calif., who decommitted from Wisconsin; and linebacker Tyler Kruse of Santa Ana-Mater Dei, Calif., over Boise State and San Diego State.

WAC:
Receiver Jason Washington of El Cerrito Calif; offensive/defensive lineman Tamarcus Tyson of Oakland-Fremont, Calif; linebacker Jamal Jones of Oakland-Skyline, Calif; and quarterback Paul Pinegar of Woodland, Calif., verballed to Fresno State.

Defensive back Dawaylynn Ross of Irving-Nimitz, Tex., and receiver Roger Jordan of Houston-Clear Creek, Tex., are headed to TCU. TCU also received a commitment from defensive lineman Chase Johnson of Shawnee Mission-Northwest, Kan. Also interested were Colorado, Baylor and Marshall.

Linebacker Justin Burks of Bellflower, Calif., decommitted from Oregon State to UTEP.

SMU added offensive lineman Townsend Hargis of Plano, Tex; defensive lineman Melvin Williams of Elysian Fields, Tex., over Oklahoma State, TCU and Arizona; and running back/receiver Mewelde Moore of Baton Rouge-Bel Air, La.

Big West:
Defensive lineman John Hawkins of Jacksonville-Bolles School, Fla., is headed to Idaho.

Boise State pledged tight end Rocky Atkinson of Pasadena CC, Calif.

Utah State added five junior college prospects, including offensive lineman Eric Gwilliam of Ricks JC, Idaho; defensive back Scott Goss of Riverside JC, Calif; offensive lineman Barry McLaughlin of City College of San Francisco, Calif; receiver Jerron Tatum of West LA JC, Calif; and linebacker Nate Barber of Pasadena CC, Calif.

Basketball signings/commitments
Men's database search, Women's database search

The Big East dominated the Class 2000 men's early signing period (Story). UConn headed the women's recruiting battle (Story).