Despite a promising college career, unlike standout NFL quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, Prechae Rodriguez didn’t see his national-level aspirations come to fruition after his time with the Auburn Tigers. Following a brief stint in football, he transitioned to working at a Florida school as a behavior support specialist.
However, Rodriguez’s post-football journey took a troubling turn akin to former NFL star Bo Jackson when he became embroiled in legal trouble related to an incident with a 9-year-old student.
Prechae Rodriguez arrested for hitting a kid
The reported incident occurred on Feb. 8 at the Eisenhower Exceptional Center in Gibsonton, where a non-verbal autistic student allegedly struck Rodriguez. In response, the former player purportedly punched the child which led to the kid falling.
Following an investigation into the matter, Rodriguez was arrested on Monday afternoon at his Sun City Center residence, charged with one count of child abuse. Despite being released on a $2,500 surety bond early Tuesday, the school swiftly terminated his employment as a result of the ongoing investigation.
In response to his termination of service, the Hillsborough County School expressed deep concern over the act of their teacher while prioritizing the safety and well-being of students as their top priority.
“Mr. Rodriguez was removed from the school while the investigation was going on and has now been terminated from the school district. We are deeply disturbed by the charges. The safety and wellbeing of our students is our top priority,” they announced in a statement to the station, per AL.com.
A spokesman for the school district noted that the child involved in the altercation was promptly attended to after being punched by his teacher.
Prechae Rodriguez’s short lived footballing career
With the Auburn Tigers, Prechae Rodriguez had a notable college football career, appearing in 35 games between 2005 and 2007. During his time with the Tigers, Rodriguez showcased his skills, recording 43 catches for 595 yards, averaging 13.8 yards per reception. He also contributed with a pair of receiving touchdowns and two carries for 17 yards, averaging 8.5 yards per rush, including a rushing touchdown.
One of the standout moments of his college career occurred when he caught the decisive touchdown pass in the third quarter of the Tigers’ 22-15 victory over Alabama in the 2006 Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa.
In 2008, the former player transitioned to the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. His impressive performance earned him the East Division’s nomination for Most Outstanding Rookie, making 70 receptions for 1,099 yards and seven touchdowns.
Following a successful rookie season, he continued to make an impact, catching 45 passes for 495 yards and three touchdowns in 2009 before being traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
While Rodriguez did not find success in the NFL, he enjoyed a fruitful career in the CFL and various indoor league teams. He played professionally until 2016, with his last stint being with his hometown team, the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League. With the Tampa Bay team, he set franchise records with 125 receptions for 1,653 yards and 32 touchdowns.
After professional football career, Rodriguez, who began working at the school in August, now finds himself without a job as a result of the incident and subsequent termination.
