AP
The saga that is Da’Rick Rogers‘ status with Tennessee has been a matter of speculation and utter confusion ever since a report came out last December that the former five-star receiver was dismissed from the team. That rumor later morphed into another report that Rogers wasn’t on the team, but not suspended, which then turned into a statement from coach Derek Dooley clarifying that Rogers was “still a part of our football team.”
That appeared to still be the case as of this week.
“He’s like the rest of the team. He’s shown a lot of progress, he grew as a player emotionally, but he has a long way to go,” Dooley said during a pre-spring press conference on Sunday.
But Rogers wasn’t on the field for Thursday’s practice. When asked about his receiver’s absence, Dooley said Rogers has “internal” things to take care of, but that he expected Rogers to be back. Exactly when wasn’t specified.
However, it could be that Rogers won’t be back at all. Panthersville.com, Georgia State’s Scout.com affiliate, reports this morning that Rogers is considering transferring to GSU.
“Georgia State would be the only place I’d look at,” Rogers told the site.
The site reported earlier in the morning that Rogers was indeed transferring, but has since backed off that initial assertion. Whether the move is definite or not — or even true — Dooley said he hadn’t heard the rumor until he was asked about it.
“Nobody has told me that,” Dooley said. “I don’t have any knowledge of (Rogers) wanting to leave. He’s never told me that, or indicated that to me or anybody else.”
Except, apparently, the social media world.
“Georgia State. Wasup?” Rogers tweeted yesterday. “I cannot wait to talk to the media tomorrow. It finally comes out.”
But, of course, Rogers wasn’t at practice and nothing has come out… officially. Is Rogers’ absence directly related to the tweets? Not sure, but one thing has been made clear:
One more season and Rogers will in all likelihood declare for the NFL. Then he’ll be Roger Goodell‘s problem.
(Hat tip to the multiple Vols beat guys on top of this story as it develops)
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