Rogers was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, and graduated from Norte Del Rio High School in Sacramento, California in 1980.
Rogers played college football for the UCLA Bruins,[2] and, as a senior, was recognized as a consensus All-American.
The next year, he tied a Rose Bowl record when he intercepted two passes off of Illinois's quarterback, Jack Trudeau.
[5] In what would turn out to be his final game, a playoff loss to the Miami Dolphins, Rogers picked off hall-of-famer Dan Marino and returned the ball 45 yards.
His death came only eight days after that of Len Bias, an NBA draft pick who also died of cocaine abuse, prompting a national discussion about the relationship between illegal drugs and athletes.