APThe roller coaster ride that has been Da’Rick Rogers has taken another turn, with the former Tennessee wide receiver reportedly set to remain in the same state and resume his playing career.
Less than a week after his indefinite suspension was announced, Austin Price of Volquest.com reports, Rogers will apparently transfer to Tennessee Tech and play for the FCS program this season. Price wrote on Twitter that Rogers took part in the team’s quarterback/wide receiver meeting Sunday as part of the process.
As Tennessee Tech is an FCS-level school, Rogers will be eligible to play immediately in 2012.
Tech has yet to officially confirm Rogers’ addition to the roster.
Rogers was suspended indefinitely by the Vols earlier this month, reportedly for running afoul of the school’s substance abuse policy for athletes. Last season, Rogers led UT in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
UPDATED 9:17 p.m. ET: Tennessee Tech officially announced Monday the addition of Rogers to its football roster.
“We’re excited to have him and look forward to working with him,” Golden Eagles head coach Watson Brown said in a statement. “It’s a unique situation for me, but we know he’s a good kid. He knows a couple of the players on our team, and we know his high school coach, and we’re going on their recommendations.
“After meeting with Da’Rick and his family, I can see what everybody is saying about him. We’ve met with Da’Rick and he understands our expectations.”
The release announcing Rogers’ transfer went on to state that the receiver”could be available to play as quickly as the opening game Thursday night in Tucker Stadium against Hampton University.”
What is the chance that he can grow up over night and stay out of trouble there?
Great players,little minds.
I’m primarily reading that he was indefinitely suspended due to plagiarism charges not substance abuse.
There’s nothing, NOTHING to do in Cookeville. If he can’t stay out of trouble there, he can’t stay out of trouble anywhere. Although that may bring on its own set of problems…
This seldom seems to work. I don’t expect him to be with Tech by season’s end. I hope he proves me wrong and figures it out.
Wish the Vols had made this move in the offseason and not a week and a half before the first game.
Vols will be fine. Still expect 8 wins this season.
Whoever is advising this kid should consider a new career. They’re obviously inept at consultation. This kid will now officially be a “nobody”. The combination of a drug history, running away from your problem/responsibility, and going to an FCS school, just finished this kid as an athlete in all likelihood, at least as far as a future in the NFL is concerned. Too bad. Tennessee on the other hand, won’t skip a beat. If “vols84″ says 8 wins, figure it’ll probably be 8 wins. Good luck, Vols (except at 6p on ESPN on Sept. 15th
).
I happen to agree with Florida727, not sure why there’s some many thumbs down here. It’s true, what lesson will this kid have learned here? At least someone in Ty Mathieu’s corner was wise enough to step in and direct him to make the right move. He will now have to face his issues head on and look in the mirror. Let’s hope for his sake he gets it figured out.
If D. Rogers goes this route, he has a very slim chance of changing anything and will fail again.
Another “athlete” who took a place in college away from a student with an appropriate SAT score. A score that would be a whole number…
Florida727, ever heard of Randy Moss? He had a similar college career and while he hasnt been the ideal NFL teammTe sometimes he’s managed to have a pretty nice career.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/01/nash-chooses-hampden-sydney/
Ah the irony.. Kiffin promised Roger’s buddy a scholarship to get D RIck.. and well. now the vols have neither.