Nebraska incomparable in Roberts eyes
When the new Nebraska coaching staff under Mike Riley arrived in Lincoln, one of their first scholarship offers went out to Wilmington (Del.) Concord linebacker Avery Roberts.
By that time, the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder had already acquired tenders from the likes of Penn State, Miami, Illinois, Rutgers and a couple other college programs; and subsequently schools such as Stanford, Oklahoma, Clemson, Oregon and Virginia Tech swelled his offers list up to 30.
But ever since the four-star prospect attended the 2015 version of the Red-White game, the Huskers have been that team to beat in Roberts' eyes.
“They were one of the first schools to offer me and they were on me constantly throughout the process,” Roberts gave as his reasons for picking Nebraska today to play his college football.
“When I went out there last year for the spring game, and spent the weekend there, I just fell in love with it. It's a very unique place. I found myself comparing every other school after that to Nebraska and no one matched up.”
The relationships he developed what the Cornhusker coaches over the past year was also instrumental in Roberts decision to attend Nebraska.
“My relationship with the coaches there, Coach Trent Bray and Coach (Mike) Riley, I believe in them,” Roberts said. “I think they can help me achieve my goals and all that I want to do. I want to come in and get some early playing time, be an All-American one day, and continue onto the NFL. Those are things I think I can accomplish there.
“Coach Bray is just a real cool, laid back dude. I know how he is. I have watched him coach and how he talks to his players, and I liked it. Coach Riley is one of the only coaches who genuinely cares about his players. He's always asking me, 'How are you doing, how is life, how are you feeling', instead of just always football, football, football.”
Roberts has become acquaintances and friends with some of Nebraska's other 2017 early commits such as Keyshawn Johnson Jr., but he said he still would likely have ended up in Lincoln even if he was the first pledge to this class.
“That didn't play much of a factor because before they committed I was already leaning toward Nebraska,” Roberts explained. “I would have still probably went to Nebraska even if they didn't commit.
“But it's kind of cool to see other good players are going to be on the team and believe in the same thing I feel about Nebraska. It's good to know that I'm not the only one that feels this way and sees the great things that are happening at Nebraska.”
Now that he is officially on board with NU, Roberts plans to join the rest of his fellow commits in this class in helping to add other top prospects to join them in the Nebraska resurgence.
The No. 1 ranked recruit in the state of Delaware also has big goals for his senior campaign. He was dealing with some hamstring issues the first half of last season, but that is now completely behind him and Roberts is "100% healthy" after getting treatment for it.
“I want to be a better leader,” Roberts stated about his goals for the 2016 season. “I want to win the state championship. I just want to dominate. I am working on my footwork, my hands, and just being unblockable.”
Roberts is hoping to make a return visit to Nebraska sometime this summer, possibly for a Big Red Weekend, and he will for certain be setting up an official visit to Lincoln. He will also be participating in upcoming Rivals and Opening camps.
Roberts' younger brother, Grahm Roberts, is a class of 2018 running back who has also been offered by the Husker staff.
