April 29, 2013

Da'Rick Rogers signs as undrafted free agent with Buffalo Bills

Former Tennessee Tech wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills shortly after he went undrafted in the 2013 National Football League Draft on Saturday.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Former Tennessee Tech wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers, an all-OVC selection following a 2012 season in which he set school records, signed a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills shortly after he went undrafted in the 2013 National Football League Draft on Saturday.

It marked the second consecutive year that a Golden Eagle receiver had signed as an undrafted free agent. A year ago, Tim Benford signed with the Dallas Cowboys.

Rogers tied the school record with 10 touchdown catches in 2012, his only season on the Golden Eagle roster after joining the team in the week leading up to the season opener. In 2012, Rogers caught 61 passes for 893 yards. The 6-foot-3 junior caught 18 passes for 303 yards in a 41-38 double-overtime loss to Southeast Missouri State to set school records in both categories. Rogers played for the University of Tennessee Volunteers in 2011 where he led the team with 1,040 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns.

In addition to second-team all-OVC, Rogers earned the 2012 College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Elite Wide Recevier Award for his performance over the past two seasons.

Rogers signed with the Bills an hour after the draft was complete Saturday, and his agent, Joby Branion, confirmed the signing on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.

“They were one of the teams that were the most interested in him all the way through," said Golden Eagle head coach Watson Brown. "They were around a lot. I think that’s a really good fit. He’s now got to go work, and pretty much from fourth round on, you have to go prove yourself. Those top one-or-twos will be kept because there’s so much invested in them, but those other guys have to go prove themselves anyway. He’s got a great opportunity, and has to get his mind right. He knows what he had to deal with. I think he’s paid the price for that, now he’s gotta go earn his way.”

Bills scout Tom Roth had good things to say about the team's speedy signee.

“He’s got it all. His body type is a lot like Eric Moulds. It’s all there,” Roth said on the team's website. “The off the field stuff that happened is why he was undrafted. Out of him, Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson, he’s the most NFL ready in my opinion in terms of route running, balls skills and everything. He can come in and he won’t be behind in terms of coaching and all that stuff.”

The Buffalo Bills announced Monday that the team has agreed to terms with the following 16 undrafted college free agents. They are expected to sign their contracts before the start of Rookie Mini-Camp on Friday, May 10th.

G Zack Chibane – Syracuse
LB Keith Pough – Howard
DE Izaan Cross – Georgia Tech
CB Nickell Robey – Southern California
DB Jordan Dangerfield – Towson
WR Da’Rick Rogers – Tennessee Tech
CB Kip Edwards – Missouri
CB Jumal Rolle – Catawba
RB Kendall Gaskins – Richmond
FB Drew Smith – Albany
WR Brandon Kaufman – Eastern Washington
DT Aaron Tipoti – California
CB Vernon Kearney – Lane
QB Jeff Tuel – Washington State
WR Kevin Norrell – Stony Brook
C Ryan Turnley – Pittsburgh