Da’Rick Rogers – The Tennessee Volunteers have suspended wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers indefinitely for violation of team rules. He is not expected to rejoin the team this season, said UT coach Derek Dooley said following Thursday’s practice.
The penalty was the result of “multiple” violations of the school’s substance abuse policy, according to an ESPN.com report.
Rogers did not appear anywhere on the two-deep depth chart Tennessee released Thursday as it gears up for the upcoming Aug. 31 season opener in Atlanta against N.C. State.
The All-SEC receiver paced the conference last fall with 67 receptions and finished second with his 1,040 yards. He totaled nine touchdown receptions.
The Calhoun, Ga., native was a five-star recruit who has been able to contribute to the team despite off-field problems. Rodgers was arrested in 2010 after a bar brawl in Knoxville and received a two-week ban from offseason activities earlier this spring.
After receiving the two-week ban, rumors began to swirl regarding Rodger’s potentially transfer to another university. He eventually returned to the team and enjoyed a solid camp, according to coaches.
Earlier this month, Rogers spoke to reporters about how comfortable everyone was within the confines of the offense. “It’s so much more fun because you don’t have to think as much,” he said. “You can just come out and run the plays and really work on getting open and trying to make plays rather than worrying about where you have to be. Everybody is moving fast.”
While the addition of 6-foot-3, 205-pound junior college All-American Cordarrelle Patterson and the return of standout Justin Hunter gives the Vols enough firepower to replace Rogers, his dismissal robs them of an opportunity of seeing all three receivers produce on the field together.
The Volunteers finished last year 8-5, but entered 2012 as a sleeper pick in the SEC after winning six of their last eight games.