Each month, I will showcase a current Denver Broncos player and inform you of their lives and accomplishments before coming to Denver. In doing so, I hope to shine a light on each players own unique journey on the road to Mile High. This month’s featured player is tight end Dante Rosario.
Dante Rosario was born on October 25, 1984 in Beaverton, Oregon. He played his high school football at Dayton High School in Dayton, Oregon where he played at seemingly every position on the team. He was named the Oregon 2A Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 and earned first-team All-State honors on both offense and defense. On defense, he was ranked as the sixth best West Coast linebacker after posting 144 tackles and three sacks. He also earned five interceptions from the free safety and linebacker positions. On offense, Rosario racked up 1,238 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns, with two more touchdowns coming on punt returns. Rosario also played on the school’s championship basketball team and track and field team.
After high school, Rosario enrolled at the University of Oregon, where he again played at a number of positions on the team. In his freshman year, Rosario played halfback after being recruited as a linebacker. In three starts his first season, he made 12 receptions for 131 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 55 yards and one touchdown. As a sophomore, Rosario moved to fullback and caught 25 passes for 278 yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed for 29 yards and a touchdown. As a junior in 2005, he once again moved positions to tight end, where he made 15 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns. He also recorded 11 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on special teams. As a senior, he made 42 receptions for 426 yards and a touchdown and was named as an All-PAC 10 honorable mention selection. He was also the co-recipient of the Gordon Wilson Award, which is given to Oregon’s best special teams player, after recording ten tackles and a forced fumble.
Rosario was selected in the fifth round (155th overall) by the Carolina Panthers in the 2007 NFL Draft. In four seasons with the team, he started in 22 games and made 82 receptions for 894 yards and five touchdowns. He was released by the team in 2010 and was later signed by the Miami Dolphins, only to be released just weeks later. In July 2011, Rosario was reunited with former Panthers head coach John Fox and was signed by the Denver Broncos. He was released by the Broncos after preseason, but was re-signed by the team in September.
With the emergence of Daniel Fells and rookie Julius Thomas, Rosario finds himself deep in the depth chart at the tight end position. He has only made one reception for ten yards so far in 2011, but Rosario should see more playing time and have the opportunity to make catches as the season wears on.
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