SEATTLE — Following the allegations that a University of Washington football player raped two women and continued to play in games during the season, the university and former leaders of its football program are responding.
The Seattle Police Department arrested 18-year-old Tylin "Tybo" Tamis Rogers on Friday around 9 a.m. near Husky Stadium in the 3900 block of Montlake Boulevard. Police said Rogers was booked into the King County Jail, and he was charged on April 9 with second-degree and third-degree rape.
On Friday, the University of Washington released a statement, reading in part: "The allegations against Tylin Rogers are serious and disturbing."
"The criminal complaint released on April 9 by the prosecutor’s office contained information new to the University, and we immediately took additional appropriate actions to address safety concerns," the statement reads. "Had the university had this new information earlier, including in the fall or winter, we would have done the same at that time."
UW said it is fully cooperating with law enforcement and that "all University personnel, including all Athletics personnel, have acted and are acting in accordance with applicable laws, policies and trauma-informed practices based on available information."
Responses from coaches
Although both are no longer with the University of Washington's football program, former head coach Kalen DeBoer and former offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb have questions to answer about one of their former players.
Grubb said in a phone call Tuesday that he was not comfortable commenting on the case.
DeBoer released a statement Thursday.
“While I am not able to comment specifically on the situation involving an individual at my former institution because of federal privacy laws and the ongoing criminal matters, I do want to make it clear that I take any allegation of sexual misconduct very seriously," DeBoer's statement read. "I always have and always will follow established institutional policies and procedures to ensure prompt reporting and proper handling of allegations by the appropriate authorities.”
Media representatives for former Athletic Director Troy Dannen, who is now in Nebraska, did not return requests for comment about Rogers and if they were aware of the allegations when he was on the team.
Current UW head coach Jedd Fisch was made to answer for the allegations against Rogers on Tuesday, but court documents show the allegations were reported to UW during the 2023 season. Yet, Rogers ended up playing in both of UW's College Football Playoff games. UW said Tuesday that Rogers has been suspended from all team activities.
A timeline of events
According to court documents, Rogers met the first victim after matching with her on Tinder in August 2023. Rogers met her at her apartment on Oct. 23, ignored her pleas and forced her to do a sexual act for 10 minutes, according to court documents. Authorities said in court documents that the victim reported the rape on Oct. 28, and took a sexual assault exam at Harborview Medical Center.
Rogers met up with the second woman at her apartment between Halloween and Thanksgiving after matching on Tinder. She told police he forced her to perform sexual acts, despite fighting back.
The first woman reported the incident to UW and their Title IX Office on Nov. 28, police said.
Rogers was suspended from team activities in November 2023, according to authorities. The freshman running back did not travel with the team for its 34-31 victory over the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 Championship game on Dec. 1.
At the time, DeBoer did not explain why Rogers was suspended in December.
Grubb told Sports Illustrated on Dec. 15 that the team was "working through some things, some challenges he's had off the field," the court documents revealed.
Grubb wouldn't answer KING 5's questions Tuesday on whether he knew about the rape accusations when that video was recorded.
Grubb was hired as the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks after UW's season.
On Dec. 15, 2023, Rogers was allowed to return to the team, according to court documents, and he went on to play in the Sugar Bowl and National Championship game. Rogers recorded five carries for 19 yards in the Huskies' semifinal win over the Texas Longhorns on Jan. 1 and rushed for two yards in the National Championship Game against the Michigan Wolverines on Jan. 8.
Officials said there were multiple emails within the UW Athletic Department confirming Rogers should be taken off the team's travel roster for the Pac-12 championship game, but there was no documentation of reasons for the move. The freshman running back was allowed to appear in the Huskies' two College Football Playoff games a month later, however.
"The timeline of (victim's initials) social media posts as well as Rogers' suspension led me to believe there is a connection between his suspension and her disclosure of the assault, especially after the comments made by the coaching staff in the media release," wrote one of the investigating officers in the probable cause determination.
KING 5 has not reviewed the emails mentioned in court documents, and it is not confirmed as to what the rationale was for why officials didn't want Rogers on the travel roster for the Pac-12 Championship Game.
However, social media posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Reddit indicate that many UW fans were aware of the allegations posted by one of the victims on social media at the end of November. In Reddit posts titled "Tybo Rogers rumors," multiple fans discussed that Rogers had been accused of sexual assault.
Rogers entered the transfer portal in January after DeBoer and Grubb left, per college football website 24/7 Sports. Rogers was recruited by Grubb and DeBoer, when he signed with the Huskies in December 2022. However, Rogers pulled himself out of the portal 10 days later, on Jan. 29. This indicates Rogers at least had a conversation with Fisch and his staff about continuing to play at UW for the 2024 season.
Students' reactions
Some students on campus told KING 5 they heard about the allegations against Rogers before the National Championship Game. Other students said they were shocked and concerned to hear the news this week.
"I was kind of surprised it was my first time hearing about it, considering how popular our football team was this year," said Kelsey Nitta, a UW student.
Nitta and other students said that if the University was aware of the rape allegations, they should have not allowed Rogers to keep playing.
"Definitely really shocking, I think that he shouldn't have played that game," said Megan Louie, a UW student.
"I understand he's probably important part of the team and everything, but that levity of accusations is pretty serious," Nitta said.
Court documents show that Rogers connected with the alleged victims over Tinder.
The dating app said in a statement that Rogers' account has been banned.
“What has been reported is horrible and has no place on our platform or anywhere. We have banned this account and will fully cooperate with law enforcement on their investigation," the statement reads.