Mocs’ role player
Backup QB Roberson does whatever is asked of him
Tyler Roberson considers himself “a football player” first.
That’s why the 6-foot-4, 210pound University of Tennessee at Chattanooga quarterback plays whatever role is asked of him during practices and games. Roberson has played on special teams both seasons of his Mocs career while handling third-team repetitions at signal caller. With Jacob Huesman’s graduation, Roberson has moved to the No. 2 spot, so while his special-teams days seem to be over, the coaches still are looking for ways to get him onto the field.
Already a gifted runner, he has improved as a passer and decision-maker. Offensive coordinator Jeff Durden recently said that if Roberson had been pressed into action last season, his package would have consisted almost entirely of runs. That won’t be the case now as the junior has shown a greater ability to throw the ball, evidenced by a 44-yard pass to Dejuan McQuarters in the team’s second scrimmage. That led to a short touchdown run the next play.
“He gets some of that Labrador retriever out of him, he calms down and does a really nice job of settling down and playing quarterback,” Durden said. “I like it when he does different things.”
The coaching staff used now-starter Alejandro Bennifield in a variety of ways offensively during the 2015 season, with Bennifield scoring on a run against Samford, gaining 29 yards on a reception against Presbyterian and completing a 75-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Borishade on the opening play against The Citadel. Roberson may be used in similar fashion this season.
“However they want to use me, it doesn’t matter at all,” Roberson said. “I just enjoy playing football; I enjoy this team and the camaraderie we have.
“I’m completely cool with it and will enjoy it either way.”
But the former two-star prospect who had 2,017 yards passing and 1,018 yards rushing as a high school senior signed with UTC as a quarterback, and now with the additional reps in practice has become both better and more confident at what he was brought to Chattanooga to do.
“I think last year helped me,” he said. “Seeing how Dro progressed and came on as a backup, I think watching him handle that last fall helped me this year. In the spring, I accepted that (backup) was my role, and I got comfortable back there behind the center, behind a quicker group of twos rather than threes, believing in myself.
“It also helps that I have teammates that will help out and lift you up on a day-to-day basis.”
The sixth-ranked Mocs will be back on the practice field this afternoon after taking Saturday off as they fully turn their attention to Thursday’s game with Shorter University.