The 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.”