Reggie Rogers, a former University of Washington athlete and NFL player, was sentenced this morning to two years in prison for two separate DUI incidents from last fall.

Rogers pleaded guilty last month.

The sentence was well over the 18 months being sought by prosecutors. Rogers' attorney had asked for 45 days in jail, with credit for time served.

During this morning's sentencing hearing, Rogers asked to be released into a faith-based treatment program, and promised that he would mentor at-risk youth. "I do feel like I can be a blessing on the community. People look up to me," Rogers said. "Things happen in life and a lot of things have happened in my life I can't take back."

Rogers refused to submit to breath-alcohol tests after police stopped him Oct. 17 and Nov. 26, according to a plea agreement. Both incidents occurred near Tukwila. The second incident resulted in Rogers' arrest because he fled the scene after hitting another car. Nobody was seriously hurt in either incident.

Had the cases gone to trial, Rogers could have faced up to three years in prison, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg.

Rogers was sentenced to prison for negligent homicide after three teenagers died when Rogers ran a stop sign and collided with their car in Pontiac, Mich. in October 1988.

When he was arrested in 1988, Rogers had been the Detroit Lions' first-round pick. After a year behind bars, the Buffalo Bills picked him up but then dropped him after playing him in only two games.

Rogers was one of UW's most versatile athletes. He won the Morris Trophy for the Pac-10's top defensive lineman in the 1980s. He came to Washington on a basketball scholarship, and left as a first-round pick by the NFL Detroit Lions.

Rogers was originally scheduled to be sentenced a week ago, but it was delayed due to a scheduling problem.