How LSU transfer Joel Rogers found his fit with UTSA

Less than a week into spring practice at his new home, UTSA safety Joel Rogers suffered a torn labrum and a dislocated shoulder, triggering a monthslong absence.

A former four-star recruit, Rogers had already been forced to wait longer than he wanted for his chance on defense, relegated mostly to special teams through his first two years at LSU.

A transfer to UTSA offered a path to more playing opportunities, until the injury presented another roadblock. But while coach Jeff Traylor suggested the transition might have been even smoother with more practice time, Rogers has proven ready to hit the ground running this fall, delivering the game-sealing interception in Saturday's win against Colorado State while steadily expanding his role in the defense.

"I went from being kind of down after transferring, which wasn't any bad terms leaving LSU, but I just felt like I wanted more playing time," Rogers said. "Having a coach that trusts in me and believes in me, and then getting the opportunity to show that. Once I show it, teammates believe in me, and it feels big. It's like bouncing back."

Though he ranks 12th on UTSA's defense in snaps played, per Pro Football Focus, Rogers is fourth on the team in tackles, racking up 18 stops. He also snared his first career interception in Saturday's 59-45 win over the Rams , charging forward to slide in front of a pass up the right sideline in the closing minutes.

Traylor said he expects Rogers "will only continue to get better" as he gains more experience following the time lost to injury.

"He pressed through it. Super kid. I'm thrilled," Traylor said. "He just loves football and wants to play. He loves to tackle. He reminds me of some other great safeties we've had here, with how much he loves football."

Rogers said he knew how to handle rehabbing his shoulder after suffering a similar injury earlier in his career, but that didn't make the setback any less frustrating.

"There was a point where I had to really think within myself like, 'What am I doing this for?'" Rogers said. "It's still a new start, even though things didn't go how I wanted to. I'm in a new spot. So as soon as I got back, it's like, 'OK, how can I get back to being me, get back to playing ball?'"

That process started when he jumped back into workouts at the beginning of preseason camp, catching up on the defensive system while rounding back into shape.

Rogers was fighting to secure a significant role on defense for the first time since his days at West Feliciana High in Louisiana, as he played just 15 defensive snaps across two seasons at LSU. He was more involved in the special teams last year with the Tigers, playing on the coverage and return teams for both kicks and punts as he said he was doing "whatever I could to get on the field."

"I feel like I didn't get what I was expecting coming out of high school," Rogers said. "I had to make a decision to where I could go somewhere and feel like I knew I could play immediately, and then start getting to showcase what I could do."

He was projected for a more glamorous role coming out of high school, as 247Sports ranked him as a four-star prospect and the No. 27 safety in the country. Rogers remembers having a difficult time sorting through all the phone calls from various programs that expressed interest. In the modern era, finding a fit is about not just the scheme, coaches and environment, but also the financial possibilities, too.

He found the play at LSU to be fast paced and "just a different level of football."

The shift to UTSA has given him a fresh opportunity.

"I just want to be a football player. I want to show what I can do," Rogers said. "I have a lot of God-given abilities, so I just want to be able to showcase that."