UW's Rosengarten Makes It Official — He's Entering NFL Draft Early

Originally posted on FanNation Husky Maven | By Dan Raley | Last updated 1/13/24

Roger Rosengarten was always so respectful of others, pleasant to speak with, totally engaging, until he got in a stance and listened for the snap count.

Then the University of Washington sophomore offensive tackle turned into a punishing brawler, someone who liked to shove people around if not drive them into the ground.

Amid the distraction of the Friday coaching change, the 6-foot-6, 300-pound Rosengarten somewhat quietly revealed on social media what he had acknowledged was a possibility all along this season — he's entering the NFL draft with two years of eligibility remaining.

"That's been my dream since I've been a little kid," Rosengarten said before entering the College Football Playoff semifinals against Texas.

An All-Pac-12 honorable-mention pick, Rosengarten will be remembered for becoming the most successful of the Huskies' touted five-player 2020 offensive lineman class recruited by coach Chris Petersen and signed by Jimmy Lake.

He leaves as a 28-game starter at right tackle, all of them coming over the past two seasons with Kalen DeBoer as the UW coach, yet with offensive-line coach Scott Huff there to guide him as part of each of the three staffs.

Rosengarten came in with fellow 2020 offensive linemen in Geirean Hatchett, who started five games this past season at right guard; Myles Murao, who transferred to San Diego State, where he became a starter at offensive tackle; Gaard Memmelaar, an offensive guard who missed this past season with a knee injury; and offensive tackle Samuel Peacock, who's appeared in 10 career games as a reserve but was injured when this past season finished up.

A Colorado native, Rosengarten, with his athletic mobility and ideal size, should find an NFL home, possibly as a mid-round draft pick.

He might have considered playing a fifth college season and turning himself into a higher draft pick, much like junior Troy Fautanu, the other UW starting tackle, did this past fall. Yet with all of the turmoil now surrounding Husky football, Rosengarten in pursuit of a pro career seems like a much better bet for him.

This article first appeared on FanNation Husky Maven and was syndicated with permission.

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