re: Washington RB arrested for rape. Played in playoff though accusations of rape were known

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Inlate November, [the victim] posted a message to her Instagram story accusing Rogers of raping her. On Nov. 28, she received a phone call from a number that police confirmed matched the number associated with Rogers’ Instagram account. When she answered, Rogers identified himself and began questioning why she had accused him of raping her. She told him she didn’t want to speak with him, hung up and blocked his number. She said she doesn’t know how he obtained her phone number, because she never gave it to him, and had only communicated with him via social media.

That same day, the victim said she reported the assault to UW’s Title IX office, which police confirmed via search warrant. A probable cause document states that the details included in the Title IX report are consistent with what the victim told police.

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Rogers did not travel with the team for the Pac-12 championship game, played Dec. 1 in Las Vegas, but later played in both of Washington’s College Football Playoff games. The probable cause document states that a warrant revealed emails within UW’s athletic department confirming Rogers should be removed from the travel squad for the Pac-12 championship game, but with no reason given.

Still, the investigating officer wrote that the timing of the first victim’s Instagram post and Rogers’ absence from the Pac-12 title game “led me to believe there is a connection between his suspension and her disclosure of the assault,” especially in light of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb telling a reporter in December that Rogers was working through “some challenges he’s had off the field.”

Rogers carried five times for 19 yards in Washington’s Sugar Bowl victory over Texas on Jan. 1. A week later, he carried once for two yards, and caught an 11-yard pass, in the Huskies’ loss to Michigan in the national championship game.

Former UW coach Kalen DeBoer, now at Alabama, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

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