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2020 Columbus DL Elijah Roberts recommitted to Miami on Friday night at the Paradise event held at Hard Rock Stadium.
The 6-3, 265-pounder is currently a consensus 3-star in the national rankings. According to the 247Sports Composite, Roberts is the #384 player nationally, #17 SDE in the country, and the #60 player in the Sunshine State. His commitment keeps Miami’s class ranking at #7 on 247Sports and #5 on Rivals.
The Player
Roberts originally committed to Miami in June 2018 after spending the day at a Mark Richt summer camp, but decommitted later that October because he felt he committed too early and wanted to take visits; he felt being committed to Miami and taking other visits would be disrespectful to the coaching staff. Despite the setback, the Canes stuck with Roberts, and UM was eventually able to pull him back in and away from the other in-state powers FSU and UF.
Roberts is a pure power rusher and has some impressive strength behind his 6’3” frame. He uses his hands well, and with his punch, is able to disengage from blocks easily to make a play. Roberts also shows awareness to diagnose run and is strong both setting the edge to contain or giving chase and take down the ball-carrier. He reminds me a bit of former Alabama star Jonathan Allen in both build and using violent strength.
Despite many pegging him for an eventual move to defensive tackle, Roberts continues to show enough speed to stick on the edge at end. Miami is offering him the chance to play either or, and have told him he will move inside for special packages. Roberts’ rip and swim move is very polished and he looks extremely strong in his bull-rush, which has been his calling card since I first saw him and he has very impressive pure strength at the point of attack. Still, he is able to go around offensive linemen at times, brandishing quick feet and change of direction.
I first saw Roberts at the Under Armour Miami camp back in mid-March 2018, an event he completely dominated against good competition. Not many knew who he was before that, but Roberts made sure he was the talk of the camp afterwards. Roberts was just bullying most every opponent, and won the vast majority of his reps handily. He shared the “Big Man Challenge” honors at the camp with Khris Bogle for the top lineman performance at the camp and earned his UM offer 2 weeks after this camp at Underclassmen Day. Seeing him up close, his physicality really stands out and with his body type, I would not be surprised if he ended up as a defensive tackle.
The Class
Roberts’ commitment gives UM 17 total verbals in the 2020 class (at the time). Roberts is now a part of an impressive haul on the defensive line for the Canes, joining Chaminade-Madonna (FL) 4-star DT Willie Moise, Lakewood (FL) 3-star DT Tre'von Riggins, and McDougle Technical Institute (FL) 4-star DE Samuel Anaele. As mentioned, Roberts could end up as a D-End or a D-Tackle, but since we recently previewed the defensive ends in Donell Harris’ class impact, we’ll take a look at Roberts and the class through the lens of DT.
The top target on the board has been University Lab (LA) 4-star Jaquelin Roy. Miami is pushing to get him on campus and Roy has said in the past he would like to use one of his officials on UM. As of now, Roy seems like a longshot for this class, though, as he seems more focused on the SEC right now.
The Canes are involved with two other in-state defensive tackles as well, including Gulliver Prep (FL) 3-star Westley Neal and Clearwater Central Catholic (FL) 3-star Jerzhan Newton. Neal just received his UM offer earlier this month, and has since reciprocated by visiting Miami for two events, including Paradise this weekend. Newton just put the Canes in his top 5 last week, is in weekly contact with coach Stroud, and is trying to make it to Coral Gables for a visit after the dead period ends in late July. I believe Miami is waiting for more clarity with Roy to start pushing either, and UM could ultimately decide they are fine with the haul they have at DT at some point as well.
The Team
By 2020, Miami will lose veterans Pat Bethel and Chigozie Nnoruka at defensive tackle, while redshirt junior Tyreic Martin will not likely be offered a fifth year. That leaves UM with a returning 6 defensive tackles and a likely starting duo of Jon Ford and Nesta Silvera. Roberts will battle with the other returnees and come in with his classmates looking for immediate playing time on the second team. With his positional versatility and college ready size, Roberts has a better chance of seeing the field as a freshman, even if it is in a bit role. If he can show he’s ready to play, there’s no reason Roberts can’t be in the rotation in his first season. Roberts will hope to develop enough by his sophomore year to begin earning starter’s minutes.
The 6-3, 265-pounder is currently a consensus 3-star in the national rankings. According to the 247Sports Composite, Roberts is the #384 player nationally, #17 SDE in the country, and the #60 player in the Sunshine State. His commitment keeps Miami’s class ranking at #7 on 247Sports and #5 on Rivals.
The Player
Roberts originally committed to Miami in June 2018 after spending the day at a Mark Richt summer camp, but decommitted later that October because he felt he committed too early and wanted to take visits; he felt being committed to Miami and taking other visits would be disrespectful to the coaching staff. Despite the setback, the Canes stuck with Roberts, and UM was eventually able to pull him back in and away from the other in-state powers FSU and UF.
Roberts is a pure power rusher and has some impressive strength behind his 6’3” frame. He uses his hands well, and with his punch, is able to disengage from blocks easily to make a play. Roberts also shows awareness to diagnose run and is strong both setting the edge to contain or giving chase and take down the ball-carrier. He reminds me a bit of former Alabama star Jonathan Allen in both build and using violent strength.
Despite many pegging him for an eventual move to defensive tackle, Roberts continues to show enough speed to stick on the edge at end. Miami is offering him the chance to play either or, and have told him he will move inside for special packages. Roberts’ rip and swim move is very polished and he looks extremely strong in his bull-rush, which has been his calling card since I first saw him and he has very impressive pure strength at the point of attack. Still, he is able to go around offensive linemen at times, brandishing quick feet and change of direction.
I first saw Roberts at the Under Armour Miami camp back in mid-March 2018, an event he completely dominated against good competition. Not many knew who he was before that, but Roberts made sure he was the talk of the camp afterwards. Roberts was just bullying most every opponent, and won the vast majority of his reps handily. He shared the “Big Man Challenge” honors at the camp with Khris Bogle for the top lineman performance at the camp and earned his UM offer 2 weeks after this camp at Underclassmen Day. Seeing him up close, his physicality really stands out and with his body type, I would not be surprised if he ended up as a defensive tackle.
The Class
Roberts’ commitment gives UM 17 total verbals in the 2020 class (at the time). Roberts is now a part of an impressive haul on the defensive line for the Canes, joining Chaminade-Madonna (FL) 4-star DT Willie Moise, Lakewood (FL) 3-star DT Tre'von Riggins, and McDougle Technical Institute (FL) 4-star DE Samuel Anaele. As mentioned, Roberts could end up as a D-End or a D-Tackle, but since we recently previewed the defensive ends in Donell Harris’ class impact, we’ll take a look at Roberts and the class through the lens of DT.
The top target on the board has been University Lab (LA) 4-star Jaquelin Roy. Miami is pushing to get him on campus and Roy has said in the past he would like to use one of his officials on UM. As of now, Roy seems like a longshot for this class, though, as he seems more focused on the SEC right now.
The Canes are involved with two other in-state defensive tackles as well, including Gulliver Prep (FL) 3-star Westley Neal and Clearwater Central Catholic (FL) 3-star Jerzhan Newton. Neal just received his UM offer earlier this month, and has since reciprocated by visiting Miami for two events, including Paradise this weekend. Newton just put the Canes in his top 5 last week, is in weekly contact with coach Stroud, and is trying to make it to Coral Gables for a visit after the dead period ends in late July. I believe Miami is waiting for more clarity with Roy to start pushing either, and UM could ultimately decide they are fine with the haul they have at DT at some point as well.
The Team
By 2020, Miami will lose veterans Pat Bethel and Chigozie Nnoruka at defensive tackle, while redshirt junior Tyreic Martin will not likely be offered a fifth year. That leaves UM with a returning 6 defensive tackles and a likely starting duo of Jon Ford and Nesta Silvera. Roberts will battle with the other returnees and come in with his classmates looking for immediate playing time on the second team. With his positional versatility and college ready size, Roberts has a better chance of seeing the field as a freshman, even if it is in a bit role. If he can show he’s ready to play, there’s no reason Roberts can’t be in the rotation in his first season. Roberts will hope to develop enough by his sophomore year to begin earning starter’s minutes.
