A University of Washington football player, Tylin “Tybo” Rogers, has been arrested and charged with raping two women in Seattle. Court documents reveal that Rogers played in two College Football Playoff games for the school even after at least one of the allegations was known to the university. The 18-year-old was arrested on Friday and charged with second-degree rape and third-degree rape, with his bail set at $150,000 for each case. Rogers has been suspended from all team activities until further notice, and the university is cooperating with police as the investigation continues.
The first incident involved a Seattle Central Community College student who reported being raped in the city’s Capitol Hill neighborhood in October 2023. The victim and Rogers met through the Tinder dating app and the assault allegedly occurred when Rogers visited her apartment. The second incident involved a 22-year-old University of Washington student who reported being raped in the University District in November 2023. The victim had also met Rogers through Tinder and was assaulted in her apartment, with Rogers reportedly using his hand to strangle her.
Rogers was suspended from team activities around late November 2023, and did not travel with the team for its Pac-12 Championship game on December 1. However, he returned to team practices by mid-December and was allowed to play in the Huskies’ two College Football Playoff games in January 2024, recording modest stats in both games. There were multiple emails sent within the University of Washington athletic department confirming Rogers’ removal from the team’s travel roster for the Pac-12 championship game, but no reasons were provided for this action.
Former University of Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, who left following the national championship game, was in charge during the time when Rogers was facing the allegations of rape. The current head coach, Jedd Fisch, stated that he was not aware of the suspension and reasons for it at the time, and Rogers has now been suspended indefinitely pending further investigation. The university is taking the allegations seriously and is working with authorities to gather more information and ensure justice is served in this case.
The arrest of Tylin “Tybo” Rogers has raised concerns about the handling of the situation by the University of Washington athletic department and coaching staff. Questions have been raised regarding why Rogers was allowed to play in College Football Playoff games despite the serious allegations against him. The case highlights the challenges faced by universities in balancing the due process rights of accused individuals with the need to protect the safety and well-being of their students.
Moving forward, it is crucial for the University of Washington and other institutions to review their policies and procedures for responding to allegations of sexual assault and violence involving student-athletes. Effective training and education programs should be implemented to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future, and clear communication channels need to be established to ensure that all reports of misconduct are taken seriously and addressed promptly. By taking proactive measures, universities can create a safer environment for all students and promote transparency and accountability in their response to cases of sexual misconduct.
