The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2017
Sport: Football (1997-2000)
Inducted: 2017
A three-year starter and two-time All-Big 12 performer, Shaun Rogers was one of the most productive defensive lineman in Texas history and went on to a highly successful tenure in the NFL. He teamed up with 2014 Hall of Honor inductee Casey Hampton to form one of the most dominant defensive tackle tandems in UT and Big 12 history. That duo each earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 1999, becoming the first Texas DT tandem since 1971 to accomplish that feat. That year, Rogers (27) and Hampton (21) combined for 48 tackles for loss on a defense that allowed more than 100 yards rushing (2.7 yards per carry) and 286.7 total yards per game. The 48 TFL were the most of any DT tandem nationally that year. Despite playing much of the season with a high ankle sprain as a senior, Rogers posted 14 TFL and 3.5 sacks in helping Texas hold opponents to just 94.0 rushing yards (fewest since 1977), 2.6 yards per carry and 278.3 total yards per game. All totaled, the Rogers-Hampton duo combined for 107 tackles for loss in their careers and helped the Longhorns rank sixth nationally in total defense in 1999 and seventh in 2000. Rogers' 27 tackles for loss in 1999 are the second most in a season in school history and his 53 career TFL rank sixth best in UT history. His five TFL (seventh most in a game in UT history) played a key role in the Horns' 24-20 upset of No. 3 Nebraska in Austin in 1999. He also had 14 sacks and 199 tackles in 41 career games. The Longhorns won nine games in each of his final three seasons and earned final national rankings of 12th (2000), 21st (1999) and 15th (1998). That was a dramatic turnaround from his true freshman season in 1997 when Texas went 4-7 and allowed 241.5 rushing yards per game. A second-round draft pick (61st overall) of the Detroit Lions, Rogers went on to play 13 NFL seasons, mostly as a starter, earning three Pro Bowl appearances. His 13 NFL seasons are second most by a Longhorn defensive lineman, trailing only 1999 Hall of Honor inductee Steve McMichael (16). In seven seasons in Detroit, Rogers started 96 of 98 games. He played in 163 career NFL games with 130 starts, registering 513 tackles and 37.5 sacks. He also made a significant impact on special teams in the NFL, blocking 11 kicks and accomplishing a rare feat for a DT – returning a fumble and interception for a TD during his career.
