Marcquis Roberts
Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker
6'1", 225 lbs.
Powder Springs, GA
Recruitment:
3 stars, #44 OLB in 2011 class
Other offers: Memphis, Mississippi State, South Florida, Central Florida, Virginia, Wisconsin
College Career:
Has missed both 2011 and 2012 with shoulder and knee injuries, respectively.
2012 Stats:
N/A
2013 Outlook:
Roberts, who committed in tandem with high school teammate Busta Anderson, is one of the handful of linebackers looking to fill the vacancies left by the wave of 2012 graduates. Roberts is competing for playing time at Will with Cedrick Cooper and converted tight end Kelvin Rainey. He was the starting Will linebacker in the spring game, although it's a role Cedrick Cooper likely would have filled were he not still recovering from a knee injury. Finally healthy, Roberts will likely find a spot in the two-deep, but as with the entire new crop of linebackers, fall practice is serving as a de facto position battle and it's unlikely we'll know Roberts' exact role until game week. The good news: that's not too far off!
Trivia:
There's not much available about Marcquis Roberts, so let's talk about Marquis Grissom instead. The centerfielder for the Braves' 1995 World Series team won four consecutive Gold Gloves in the mid 90s. You might remember Marquis for his speed, but did you know he's one of the top 300 home run hitters of all time?
Possible Todd Ellis play-by-play call:
"Boyd takes the snap, Gamecocks bringing the blitz! Boyd is rattled and he'll try to flee the pocket, but he will not escape! SACKED! Dragged down with force by Marquis Roberts, who's been lights out for this Gamecocks team all season! Folks, after all the grass he's made opponents eat, they might take to calling him 'Marcquis de Sod'!"