Incarnate Word Is First School To Offer Nacagdoches’ Ken Rogers

Ken Rogers is on the board as an East Texas player likely bound for the college football circuit next season.

Nacogdoches' leading receiver confirmed to ETSN.fm that Incarnate Word of the Southland Conference offered him a scholarship on Monday.

"I'm really glad I picked up the offer," Rogers sent in a statement, "it's been a huge relief. I've been waiting on my first offer."

Rogers, a senior, has six touchdowns and 461 yards on 21 receptions in Nacogdoches' balanced offense. He joins teammates Brandon Jones, Corey Lane and Jaylon Lane as players with offers on the next level.

Incarnate Word, located in San Antonio, launched its football program in 2007 and is in its first year of Southland competition. It currently has a 1-6 record and will host McNeese State on Saturday.

The Cardinals program is in position for future success. The current roster consists of 12 seniors, 26 juniors, 23 sophomores, 25 active freshmen and 10 redshirt freshmen.

Incarnate Word relies heavily on in-state recruiting with 81 current players from Texas.

Larry Kennan is the program's head coach. He took the job after the 2011 season and guided the Cardinals to their best season in school history, 6-5, in 2013.

Most of Kennan's career experience came in the NFL. He won a Super Bowl ring as the quarterbacks coach on the 1984 Los Angeles Raiders staff and won a World Football Championship as head coach of the London Monarchs in 1991. Kennan spent time as the offensive coordinator for the Colts, Seahawks and Patriots franchises before retiring from coaching in the NFL after the 1997 season.

He was the executive director of the NFL Coaches Association for the 13 years prior to taking the Incarnate Word job.

Aside from the Monarchs and his current stint with the Cardinals, Kennan was the head coach at Lamar from 1979 to 1981. He also served as an offensive coordinator for UNLV and SMU in the 1970s.

Rogers can sign with Incarnate Word or any other program that offers him on Feb. 4, 2015.