Cincinnati Bengals: Local track star trying to make it to NFL

Apr. 16—Rodney Heath Jr. hasn't played an organized football game since 2019, but two years removed from a decorated college track career, the Lakota East High School alumnus got the itch to try to make it to the NFL.

The sprinter turned professional in track after wrapping up at Louisiana Tech in 2024 and now will give it a try in football.

Heath, the son of former Bengals cornerback Rodney Heath Sr., has been training with his dad, East football coach Jon Kitna and Kitna's son, former University of Alabama-Birmingham quarterback Jalen Kitna, to get ready for free-agent workouts.

Heath participated in the UAB Pro Day with Jalen Kitna a few weeks ago, then got a call from the Bengals inviting him to their local player pre-draft workout. He was among the 32 players with local ties to Cincinnati who participated in the event Tuesday at Paycor Stadium.

"Just grace of God, the opportunity presented itself, and then I just opened the door, and I just walked through it," Heath said.

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Heath, who won the 2020 Indoor State Championship in the 60-meter dash as a senior at East, began his collegiate track career with two years at the University of Kentucky before transferring to Louisiana Tech.

He earned NCAA All-American Honorable Mention honors in 2023, qualified for the NCAA Championships while setting a school record in the 100-meter dash with a 9.99-second time and earned multiple gold, silver and bronze medals at the Conference-USA Championships in 2023 and 2024.

Following his last meet in 2024, Heath turned pro in track and continued racing until this past indoor season.

"I sat out indoor because of the buzz about me coming back to football," Heath said. "I just decided to do it, and then, like I said, the opportunity, when it opened, I just took it."

Aside from not playing college football, Heath is trying to make it at a position he wasn't even well-known for in high school. Playing for an East team that relied on a running game in a traditional triple-option offense, he had just three catches for 22 yards among the Hawks' mere 32 passes completed for 521 yards in 2019.

Heath played more cornerback than wide receiver and finished with two interceptions as a senior, but felt his best chance in the NFL would be on offense.

"When I came on the other side to play receiver, it was kind of like, mentally, it's kind of easier for me because I have a defensive mindset coming up with the offensive side of the ball," Heath said.

Because Heath is now almost two years removed from college, he enters the pool as a free agent and can be signed by any team. His dad knows something about trying to make it to the NFL as an undrafted free agent.