Rogan inspired by daughter

Dennis Rogan -- Freshman and father

Dennis Rogan decision to play for UT ...

There’s a certain cheerleader that has caught Dennis Rogan’s eye.

Her name is Chasiana.

Now don’t go thinking that Rogan is smitten by just another college coed.

See, the apple of Rogan’s eye is just one-year old.

She’s his daughter.

“I love her,” the Tennessee freshman said in an interview during UT’s media day in August. “That’s a big reason I came here.”

When Rogan was finally offered a scholarship and committed to UT in October 2006, one of the first things he did was buy his daughter a Tennessee cheerleader’s outfit.

Of course there are plenty of challenges, some are the same as any teenager faces when surprised by a newborn.

But some are unique to being a college football player.

Class, football practice and caring for a child is quite a challenging itinerary.

“You just have to learn your schedule and what times you have available and just go for it,” the 17-year-old Rogan said at the time.

That “go for it” attitude is serving Rogan well on the field. The former Fulton High School star was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Vanderbilt last Saturday.

Rogan returned three punts for 72 yards and three kicks for 74 yards. He may have saved the season with a 45-yard punt return to set up the winning score and a tackle on the ensuing kickoff that prevented the Commodores from retaking the lead.

But special teams are so last week.

Rogan’s future could be even brighter in the defensive backfield, and maybe beyond. Coaches and players are wondering aloud about other ways to get the 5-foot-10, 182-pounder the ball.

Rogan started the season practicing at safety, but seems to have found a home at cornerback.

“He has All-American ability,” UT secondary coach Larry Slade said. “He’s a guy that works hard. He’s a ball player. He’s going to make a ton of plays here.”

Wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor, who deals with parental issues as assistant head coach of player development, said that while being a teenage parent isn’t ideal, it often results in an added sense of focus for student athletes.

And Taylor doesn’t mean football.

“They want to be able to sit down and say, ‘I went to college and I graduated from college. I got my degree’ to their own kid,” Taylor said. “Before it might have been ‘I just want to go to the pros.’”

Taylor may be the perfect person to help kids raise kids. After all, he knows the territory well. Taylor’s mother had her first child when she was 14.

“I’ve been a part of that deal,” he said.

Taylor also benefits from the insight that his wife, Evi, provides.

“My wife’s a social worker, so I can ask her questions — where they can go get help from government resources,” Taylor said. “Right now, obviously they don’t have jobs.”

Taylor’s not there to judge. He’s there to help make the best out of a tough situation.

“It’s obviously not something that we go out and advertise or try to glorify,” Taylor said. “But it is something that happens in today’s world. We have to be prepared for all those things.”

So don’t expect Rogan to be a cocky athlete, even though he has plenty of reason to be. Three state high school championships and a bright college future pale in comparison to that cheerleader who changed his life forever.

“It can humble you,” Taylor said, “when you really understand that you’re responsible — not only for you — but for somebody else’s life.”

Erin Chapin contributed to this report.