A University of Washington football player, Tylin “Tybo” Rogers, has been arrested and charged with raping two women in Seattle. The incidents occurred in 2023, with one woman reporting the alleged rape to police in October and the other in November. Rogers, an 18-year-old freshman running back from Bakersfield, California, was charged with second-degree rape and third-degree rape. Court documents reveal that the university was aware of at least one of the allegations against Rogers, as the second woman reported the rape to the university in late November and he was suspended from team activities around the same time. Despite his suspension, Rogers played in two College Football Playoff games for the University of Washington.
The first victim, a 19-year-old Seattle Central Community College student, met Rogers on the Tinder dating app and was assaulted at her apartment in Capitol Hill in October 2023. She reported the alleged rape to police on October 28 and completed a sexual assault kit at Harborview Medical Center. The second victim, a 22-year-old University of Washington student, met Rogers at a Halloween party at the university and was then assaulted at her apartment in the University District in November 2023. Rogers allegedly called her to confront her about the allegations after she reported the rape to the university on November 28. He was suspended from team activities at this time but returned to practice by mid-December and played in the Huskies’ College Football Playoff games in January.
Rogers was arrested by Seattle police officers on Friday and booked into King County Jail. His bail was set at $150,000 in each case, and he was released on bond. The University of Washington athletic department has suspended him from all team activities until further notice. The university has stated that they will continue to gather facts and cooperate with police as requested. At the time of the allegations, Ryan Grubb, the offensive coordinator, mentioned that Rogers was working through some challenges off the field, but new head coach Jedd Fisch stated that he was not aware of the situation until the allegations were brought to his attention.
Court documents reveal that multiple emails were sent within the University of Washington athletic department confirming Rogers should be taken off the team’s travel roster for the Pac-12 Championship game but no reasons were given for this action. However, he was allowed to participate in the College Football Playoff games a month later. In the semifinal win over the Texas Longhorns, Rogers recorded five carries for 19 yards, and in the National Championship Game against the Michigan Wolverines, he rushed for two yards. Kalen DeBoer was the coach during these games, but he has since left to take the head coaching job at Alabama, with Jedd Fisch now the head coach at Washington. Fisch has stated that Rogers has been suspended indefinitely since the allegations were brought to his attention.
As the legal proceedings continue for Tylin “Tybo” Rogers, the University of Washington is facing scrutiny over their handling of the situation. Despite the serious allegations of rape against him, Rogers was allowed to participate in high-profile College Football Playoff games for the university. The case highlights the importance of taking allegations of sexual assault seriously and ensuring that appropriate actions are taken to protect victims and prevent accused individuals from participating in activities that could potentially put others at risk.
