Husky Roster Review: Rosengarten Is Off to Nice Career Start, Roger That
In the middle of Autzen Stadium, University of Washington football players jumped around wildly and hugged each other enthusiastically after beating arch-rival Oregon 37-34 with a closing burst of energy and points.
No one seemed to enjoy himself more on that Saturday night in November than Roger Rosengarten, who was photographed with his head bent way back, basically howling at the moon in the Willamette Valley.
Besides beating the Ducks last November, the 6-foot-6, 303-pound sophomore offensive tackle from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, had a lot to be pleased about after three seasons in Montlake.
Rosengarten became a full-time starter in 2022 as just a redshirt freshman in class standing, using his pandemic freebie, of course, to maintain a football fountain of youth.
He was named as a Freshman All-America selection, sharing in the near-perfect Husky pass protection that allowed just seven sacks all season.
With so much early career success, this Rocky Mountain rustler stands a chance to become one of the program's most decorated and desirable NFL offensive-line prospects.
"I had a good season, but I want to make sure I exceed expectations coming into this season," Rosengarten said. "Every time I step on the field, I want to make sure I play my hardest."
Going down the roster from No. 0 to 99, Rosengarten, who wears No. 73 all to himself, is next up in a series of profiles about each of the Huskies' scholarship players and assorted walk-ons, summing up their spring football performances and surmising what might come next for them.
THE JOLLY ROGER
When Kalen DeBoer's coaching staff took over last year, its first objective was to bring in a high-level quarterback to jumpstart the offense and this was accomplished by coaxing Indiana transfer Michael Penix Jr. out West.
The second call to action was to fix the offensive line and the Huskies turned real creative by moving senior leader Jaxson Kirkland to offensive guard from tackle, inserting Corey Luciano at center and bumping two-year starting right tackle Victor Curne from the lineup in favor of Rosengarten.
"He's got a mindset you like from an offensive-line standpoint, where he's going to get after you," DeBoer said of his young right tackle. "He's a finisher. He's got a little bit of that bully-ness when he's playing between the lines."
Rosengarten stands to be a three- or four-year starter up front and likely will move to left tackle, the NFL money position, in 2024 after Troy Fautanu finishes up.
He's got the right mix of size, mobility, desire and humility to be as good as the Huskies have had up front. As the accompanying photo gallery displays, he has a good time on the football field, clearly enjoying himself. Everything has gone as planned.
"As soon as I got here, I wanted to work as hard as I could in getting on the field," Rosengarten said. "I knew if I put in the work, trusted my technique and used my athleticism, I knew good things would happen."
ROGER ROSENGARTEN FILE
Service: Rosengarten has appeared in 18 Husky games and started 13, all in 2022. He could play 36 more, not counting bowl or postseason games.
Stats: He wore No. 72 in his first two seasons, but 73 was always his number, and he traded for it.
Role: Rosengarten is one of the young stars of the Pac-12, making anything possible — conference recognition, consideration for All-America honors in due time, a lofty NFL draft pick.
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