Reinhardt doubles up with Ridgeland duo
Family has always been a huge part of the lives of Terrance and Torrance Roberts and that was evident last Wednesday when they took the stage at Ridgeland High School to sign national letters of intent with Reinhardt University.
Friends, coaches, teammates, relatives and a large contingent of brothers’ church family were all in attendance to watch them take the next step in their college careers.
The twins had originally committed to Urbana University in west central Ohio, but they said a late visit to the Waleska, Ga. campus last month ultimately changed their minds.
“Reinhardt was closer to home,” Terrance explained. “We went on a visit and we just fell in love with it. It’s close to home and they were offering the same thing. It’s a perfect fit for us and, being close to home, people can come see us.”
Terrance ran 149 times for 1,041 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Region 6-AAAA champion Panthers this past season, while adding 73 tackles — 42 solo — on defense with three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. An All-region and AllState selection in both football and baseball during his time at Ridgeland, he was the Region 6-AAAA Football Player of the Year in 2019 and will play both sports at Reinhardt.
As a junior, Roberts hit .407 with eight doubles and two triples, 27 RBIS, 21 runs scored and 27 stolen bases for the Panthers.
Torrance, also a track standout, had 44 carries for 339 yards and one score this past fall, caught 11 passes for 300 yards and three more TDS and picked up 60 tackles — 29 solo, two for a loss — with an interception and a fumble recovery on the defensive side of the ball. He was named to the All-region first team as a receiver this past fall in helping Ridgeland win the region championship.
Both said they are being looked at as wingbacks and part-time slot receivers as the Eagles run a wing-t scheme very similar to what they ran at Ridgeland.
“Reinhardt is getting a steal of a deal,” Panthers’ head coach Kip Klein stated. “If they had just been a little taller, they probably could have gone to a major college just because of their work ethic and what they do and what they mean to a team. They’re leaders. They lead by example and they do what they have to do, especially in the weight room.
“(Reinhardt) is getting two guys that are there every day and that work hard to improve. Plus, they’re good, model citizens. We’re going to miss them.”
Both brothers said they plan on bringing a hard-working attitude to the Eagles and they added that they would both miss the family atmosphere they said they have experienced at Ridgeland.
“I’m most definitely going to miss (the family atmosphere) here,” Terrance added. “I think they’ll have that (at Reinhardt) too, but it’s not like the Ridgeland family. That’s what I’ll miss the most.”
“I’m going to miss the people and the community, my loving friends and the coaches,” Torrance added. “I’ve made some amazing bonds here and I’ll miss it, but it’s a part of going on to the next chapter.”
Torrance wants to major in sports studies or sports management and Terrance is considering becoming a teacher or an orthodontist.