Former Lufkin standout quarterback Kordell Rodgers announced his decision to transfer to Texas Southern on Twitter after spending the last five years as a defensive back at Texas State. 

Rodgers was a Class 6A All-State Honorable Mention selection as a senior and earned the District 12-6A Offensive Most Valuable Player award as a junior and a senior. He threw for 5,373 and 55 touchdowns during his last two years with the Panthers.

Rodgers switched from quarterback to defensive back when he arrived at Texas State and recorded seven interceptions and 25 passes defended in 51 games for the Bobcats. 

He was plagued by injuries during his tenure with the Bobcats. After suffering a broken hand, Rodgers played his freshman season with a club-like cast for most of the season. Injuries took a more significant toll on Rodgers after his sophomore campaign when he missed nine games in 2019 with a shoulder injury.

Rodgers joins a Texas Southern squad dealing with rising expectations under coach Clarence McKinney. The Tigers have won eight games over the last two seasons, which is more wins than TSU had from 2017-2021 combined. The addition of Rodgers strengthens the Tigers defensive backfield heading into a 2023 season with TSU fans hoping to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference West Division title and a spot in the conference championship game.