CHARLESTON – A fresh start and a fair shot are exactly what University of Charleston sophomore Jordan Roberts needed to rejuvenate his football career.
Entering 2010, Roberts is ready for a breakthrough season as the Golden Eagles’ premier tailback after transferring from West Virginia University.
“The best thing about transferring is I’m getting an opportunity now,” said Roberts, a former Scott High School football star who made five tackles on the Mountaineers’ special teams as a redshirt freshman last year.
“Here, I’m getting my whole school paid for. There, I got about half of it paid for. I’m only 30 minutes from my house (in Yawkey, Lincoln County). I live on campus because it’s more convenient, but I’m still close to home.”
UC is an NCAA Division II school in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. WVU is an NCAA Division I-A school in the Big East Conference.
“UC might be a step down from WVU, but we have had guys go to the NFL from here,” said Roberts, who won the 2007 Kennedy Award after a senior season in which he ran for a state-record 3,826 yards and 48 touchdowns and threw for 684 yards and seven scores.
“You can go pro from anywhere. I feel like I can be a star at this level. I feel like I can be a star at any level, to be honest with you. It was just a matter of whether they were going to let me or not.”
The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Roberts was unhappy in Morgantown. Although he often turned heads with his practice and scrimmage performances, he learned during his two years at WVU that life as a walk-on, especially one from the Mountain State, often is not easy or fair.
“I felt like for every 10 touchdowns I scored in practice, a five-star player from another state could score one and it would be the same,” said Roberts, who was the Mountaineers’ offensive scout team player of the year in 2008.
“It was politics. It was about who you know and who the coaches brought in. They just want their players to play. Here, the best players play. Here, I’m getting a legitimate chance to play.
“I feel like I could have played at WVU. I might have gotten to play at running back my senior year, but even that was questionable. It felt like I was getting punched in the face and I couldn’t do anything about it.”
One example of Roberts’ ability is his 65-yard touchdown run against the Mountaineers’ first-string defense in the 2009 Gold-Blue Game. He finished the annual exhibition with 75 yards on eight carries.
“I did that on the scout team all the time,” he said, “but it didn’t mean anything.”
Some might dismiss Roberts’ opinion as sour grapes. Critics could claim he didn’t want to put in the work necessary to go from scout team to first team. They, however, would be wrong.
Roberts’ work ethic is undeniable. In fact, it is his hallmark.
In high school, he often would go to Scott’s field house to work out before school. Then, he would go to his classes. Next, he would go back to the Skyhawks’ field house for another workout. Finally, he would head home, where he would attach a chain-and-tire concoction to his neck and shoulders and run through the woods with it dragging behind him. Gymnastics training replaced Roberts’ rigorous ritual three nights a week.
“First of all, he has one of the best work ethics I have ever seen,” said UC Coach Tony DeMeo, whose team posted a 9-2 overall record and 6-2 league mark in 2009. “When you have that, you are just going to get better and better. I believe talent is made, not given. I don’t believe you are born with it.
“Second, he has tremendous desire. You can’t teach that. No coach in America can give a kid that inner fire and inner resolve.”
As far as his physical abilities, Roberts is “as strong as a bull and can run through a brick wall,” DeMeo said. “He is a lot faster than everybody thinks. He also blocks really well for his teammates.”
Roberts praised DeMeo, offensive coordinator Ralph Isernia and assistant coaches Tate Gregory and Steve Shuster for helping him learn the Golden Eagles’ triple-option offense during the spring.
“They have done a really good job helping me learn the system,” he said. “I have a good relationship with the coaches.”
Roberts also has a good rapport with his teammates. Although he joined the program only seven months ago, he already has established himself as one of the most respected and liked players on the roster.
“He is very, very team-oriented,” said DeMeo, who enters his sixth season at UC with a 37-18 record. “The rest of the guys on the team have taken to him right away. He is new to the team, but he is already a leader.”
The respect is mutual.
“Your teammates are like your brothers,” said Roberts, who led a close-knit Scott squad to the third round of the state playoffs for the first time in school history during his senior season. “The only way to win is to be a family. I think our team does that well.”
DeMeo uses three running backs in his offense, which likely will include the trio of Roberts, Julian Johnson (58 carries for 489 yards and three touchdowns) and Mike Drake (40 carries for 208 yards and two scores).
“I’m trying to be the starting tailback behind the quarterback,” Roberts said. “I just want the ball in my hands. I just want to go out there and play like I know how to play and, hopefully, help my team have a real good year.”
Drake and Johnson are two of nine returning starters on offense. The others are tackle A.J. Anderson, guard Josh Harvey, receiver Andre Higgins, receiver Justin Nelson, tackle Ryan Carter, guard David Espinal and center Derek Pauley.
Also back for the Golden Eagles are eight returning starters on defense. They are linebacker Taylor Jovicic, lineman Craig Kampfer, cornerback Rickey Strother, safety Chris Woomer, linebacker Austin McClain, linebacker Danny Thomas, lineman Josh Bruce and cornerback Markel Vaughn.
Kicker and punter Wes Sherrill also returns to man those pivotal positions for the fourth consecutive season.
UC must replace only five starters, but one of them is quarterback DaRante Hunter, who would have been a senior and four-year starter but was dismissed from the school and team in December for an undisclosed incident.
It is a big loss for the Golden Eagles.
Hunter ran for 2,292 yards and 43 touchdowns and threw for 4,522 yards and 39 scores in his three seasons at UC, which had a 24-9 record with him under center. He ranks 10th in conference history in career total yards (6,814).
The top two candidates to replace Hunter are Blaine Wilson and Jordan Curry.
Wilson was the first-team quarterback after spring drills, “but nothing is set in stone,” DeMeo said. “More than likely, we will play both of them.”
Charleston will visit Tusculum (Tenn.) College on Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. in the teams’ season opener.
The Pioneers lead the series 2-1, but the Golden Eagles won 31-14 last year.