Washington Huskies running back Tybo Rogers has been charged with raping two women in Seattle in two separate incidents at the end of 2023. Rogers was charged with second-degree rape and third-degree rape, and his bail was set at $150,000 in each case. The University of Washington Intercollegiate Athletics Department has suspended Rogers from all team activities until further notice and stated that they will continue to gather facts and cooperate with law enforcement. One of the allegations was known to the school, according to charging documents.
The first allegation came from a Seattle Central Community College student who reported being raped in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in October 2023. The second victim, a 22-year-old University of Washington student, reported being raped in the University District in November 2023. Both women said they met Rogers on Tinder, and he assaulted them during encounters at their apartments. The second victim also alleged that Rogers used one of his hands to strangle her during the assault. Rogers was suspended from team activities in November and did not travel with the team for the Pac-12 Championship in early December.
Rogers played in the College Football Playoff for the Huskies, helping them to a semifinal victory over the Texas Longhorns but ultimately losing to the Michigan Wolverines in the national championship. Then-head coach Kalen DeBoer left to take a coaching position with the Alabama Crimson Tide, and current head coach Judd Fisch stated that Rogers has been suspended indefinitely and is not expected to be on the field. Fisch did not comment on why Rogers was allowed to play in the playoff games, as he was not present at the time of the allegations being brought to the school’s attention.
The Seattle Police Department investigated the allegations against Rogers, and the school said they are cooperating with law enforcement. Rogers has been suspended from all team activities, and it is unclear whether he will return to the team. The Associated Press contributed to this report, and the situation remains ongoing as more details emerge. It is a challenging and troubling situation for both the university and the football program as they navigate the legal process and deal with the implications of such serious allegations.
