2012 SD Chargers Media Guide_PROOF.P - Seahawks Online ...

88 DANTE ROSARIOTight End UFA (Denver) - ’126-4, 250 Oregon6th NFL SeasonDayton HS1st with ChargersDayton, Ore.The Chargers added an experienced pass-catching tightend when they signed Dante Rosario in March.Rosario, who can help the Chargers as an extra blockeras well as a pass-catcher, has 89 career catches for 1,011yards and four scores.A native of tiny Dayton, Ore., Rosario comes from a familywith a rich athletic history. His father, Pedro, emigratedto the United States from the Dominican Republic in 1964to play baseball for the Milwaukee Braves. A left-hander,he played eight seasons of minor league baseball beforehis arm gave way, ending his career. Rosario’s late mother,Yvonne, grew up in Dayton and was a star volleyball playerat Oregon State. Yvonne suffered from cancer and died inTRANSACTION HISTORY: Fifth-round pick (155) by Carolina,April 29, 2007...signed with Panthers June 8...contractexpired, March 3, 2011...signed with Denver, Aug. 1...releasedSept. 3...signed with Miami Sept. 5...released by Dolphins Sept.20...signed with Denver Sept. 22...contract expired March 13,2012...signed one-year contract with Chargers, March 20.2011: Spent first two weeks with Miami Dolphins, appearingin both games...acrobatic 23-yard catch late in fourth quartervs. Chargers Nov. 27 helped set up game-tying field goal asBroncos later won game in overtime...season-long 32-yardcatch Dec. 24 at Buffalo. 2010: Career-high 32 catches onseason...season-high five catches Oct. 24 vs. San Francisco inLondon. 2009: Tallied career-high 313 receiving yards...touchdown catches in consecutive weeks Sept. 20 at Atlanta(11 yards) and Sept. 28 at Dallas (25 yards). 2008: 14-yardtouchdown catch as time expired gave Carolina 26-24 winDecember 2001, when Rosario was a junior in high school.Before she died, Yvonne encouraged all three of her childrento achieve greatness in life.In the year following her passing, Rosario led tiny DaytonHigh School to state titles in both football and basketball,leading to the offer of a football scholarship fromthe University of Oregon. Rosario’s younger brother, Sergio,also excelled in sports, playing basketball at both ConcordiaUniversity and Linfield College. Dante also has aconnection to Linfield. He returns to his home state eachsummer and hosts the “Dante’s Inferno Football Camp” atthe school.over San Diego in season opener Sept. 7....set career highswith seven catches and 96 yards in game and touchdownwas lone scoring catch of season. 2007: First-career touchdowncatch (5 yards) Dec. 2 vs. San Francisco...20-yard TDcatch in Dec. 30 season finale at Tampa Bay.COLLEGE: Set school record for tight ends with 42 catchesas senior...finished career with 94 catches for 1,003 yardsand 11 touchdowns, while rushing 27 times for 84 yards andtwo TDs...played at Oregon from 2003-06...earned degree inpolitical science.PERSONAL: Born in Portland, Ore....2002 Oregon 2A DefensivePlayer of Year along with first-team all-state honors aslinebacker and running back...led football and basketballteams to 2A state titles in ’02.VETERANS &RETURNING PLAYERSRegular Season Receiving Special Teams Kickoff ReturnsYear Team G-S No.-Yds. Avg. Long TD Tackles No.-Yds. Avg. Long TD2007 Carolina 16-2 6-108 18.0 54 2 5 2-39 19.5 25 02008 Carolina 16-5 18-209 11.6 24 1 3 2-26 13.0 18 02009 Carolina 14-8 26-313 12.0 26 2 5 2-41 20.5 22 02010 Carolina 16-6 32-264 8.3 26 0 0 0-0 0.0 0 02011 Miami 2-0 0-0 0.0 0 0 0 0-0 0.0 0 02011 Denver 14-3 7-117 16.7 32 0 9 0-0 0.0 0 0Totals 78-24 89-1,011 11.4 56 5 22 6-106 17.7 25 0Postseason Receiving Special TeamsYear Team G-S No.-Yds. Avg. Long TD Tackles2008 Carolina 1-0 3-28 9.3 14 0 02011 Denver 2-1 0-0 0.0 0 0 1Totals 3-1 3-28 9.3 14 0 1Regular-Season Single-game HighsPostseason Single-game HighsReceptions — 7 at San Diego Sept. 7, 2008 Receptions — 3 vs. Arizona Jan. 10, 2009Receiving Yards — 96 at San Diego Sept. 7, 2008 Receiving Yards — 28 vs. Arizona Jan. 10, 2009Receiving Long — 54 vs. Seattle Dec. 16, 2007 Receiving Long — 14 vs. Arizona Jan. 10, 2009Receiving TDs — 1 (5 times) Last: at Dallas Sept. 28, 2009Receiving Long TD — 25t at Dallas Sept. 28, 2009MEDIA GUIDE | 101