The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Lions select Benedictine alum
Those who followed Michael Roberts’ college football career won’t have far to travel to watch him play in the NFL.
The 6-4, 270-pound tight end from the University of Toledo was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft on April 29.
The Lions tapped the Benedictine High School product with the 21st pick (127th overall) of the fourth round.
“This is definitely exciting,” Roberts said. “I’m looking forward to making Detroit my new home. I am glad I’m going to be so close to Toledo, too, so I can come back and see some games and still be close to my friends and family in Toledo.”
As a senior at Toledo, Roberts was the red-zone favorite for quarterback Logan Woodside, catching 45 passes for 533 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Eighty percent of his receptions went for first downs and 35 percent of his catches went for touchdowns.
Combine those statistics with his frame, which enables him to be a solid blocker in the run game, and Roberts was an attractive tight end prospect.
Projected as a fifth- or sixth-round draft pick, Roberts was taken in the fourth round — even ahead of the University of Michigan’s Jake Butt.
“I knew I was on their radar,” Roberts said. “I hadn’t talked to the Lions in a couple of days. But they had showed a lot of interest.”
At Toledo’s pro day in March, the Lions and the Steelers worked out Roberts and Lake Erie College’s Anthony Kukwa for almost 30 minutes in rigorous tight end drills.
The Lions rely heavily on starting tight end Eric Ebron, who had 63 catches for 734 yards and one touchdown last year. Roberts will compete with Cole Wick and Orson Charles for playing time.
Roberts said his versatility, size and strength are his fortes.
“This really wasn’t a lifelong dream,” Roberts said of getting drafted into the NFL. “I didn’t start playing football until my ninthgrade year. It wasn’t until I got my first scholarship offer, Louisville in my junior year, that I thought I could do this — get to the NFL.
“I’m excited to get started. I’m looking forward to making an immediate impact and keep working hard. That’s what I’m best at.”