A day before he visits Florida for the Gators’ pro day, Bloomington North running back D’Angelo Roberts said Indiana remains very much in contention for his services.
Roberts has established a good relationship with the IU coaching staff, especially running backs coach Dennis Springer. He said he has noticed the strength of recent recruiting classes, but also feels like he could play early at Indiana.
The Hoosiers also play an offense similar to what he wants — a run-focused offense that will give him the ball.
It’s also close to him. Roberts said he feels a responsibility to be around for his three-year-old sister and one-year-old brother.
Indiana’s competition for Roberts (who is 5-foot-10, 181 pounds and recently ran an auto-timed 4.36 40-yard dash) is fierce, though.
While Ball State and Western Kentucky are his other two scholarship offers, Roberts has heavy interest from Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Cincinnati and Minnesota.
Offers could be coming soon from those schools, Roberts said.
He is in Daytona Beach this week for spring break, which made the trip to Gainesville doable. Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio called Bloomington North coach Scott Bless last week and said the coaching staff wanted to visit Bloomington during the Spring. But, in the meantime, would Roberts be available to come to Gainesville?
Roberts said Florida’s spread option offense concerns him.
“Florida is a great place,” Roberts said during a phone conversation. “Great atmosphere. Great fans. All of that. But Florida is not a place where you can knowledgeably name off talented running backs that have gone into the NFL. They don’t run the ball out of the I.
“Me going to Florida is a blessing in disguise. If they offered a scholarship, then more scholarships would definitely come, because it is Florida.”
Here is Roberts’ 2009 season highlight video.
“a run-focused offense that will give him the ball.” what????
He wants to play for a running team. And not a running team that uses their QB as their main rusher.
Man, that is one heck of a burst he has. Sounds like a great kid too.
“All of that. But Florida is not a place where you can knowledgeably name off talented running backs that have gone into the NFL”
Have today’s young’uns already forgotten Emmitt Smith?
He’s got some nifty little moves in the video to match the speed.
The “pistol” makes the IU offense attractive to backs like this, who can take advantage of the modified I formation to accelerate from. The spread offense just does not offer any advantage in the ground game to a running back.