Ryan Roberts
Offensive Tackle / Florida State
Ed Hunt: What are your measurements? (Height, Weight and 40 time)
Ryan Roberts: I do not know my 40 at this moment. My weight is 318 and my height is 6’6.
Ed Hunt: When is your Pro Day?
Ryan Roberts: March 23rd.
Ed Hunt: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Ryan Roberts: I’m in Phoenix, AZ at Fischer Institute.
Ed Hunt: Tell me about your training.
Ryan Roberts: I originally came in, did a few baselines and now I’m just breaking it down into sections. Breaking it down into simple movements and everyday increase the intensity and obviously nutrition.
Ed Hunt: Can you tell me the highlight of your experience at the Gridiron Classic in Texas?
Ryan Roberts: I think it was the opportunity to compete one last time. One last time with the Florida State helmet. So many legends like Deion Sanders and Warrick Dunn. To do it in front of NFL and CFL scouts is fun.
Ed Hunt: What schools were interested in you out of high school?
Ryan Roberts: Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan and Florida State. I committed very early, my junior year.
Ed Hunt: Why did you transfer to FSU?
Ryan Roberts: One thing about me is my faith. I pray about everything. When I was praying for a place, FSU was just pulling me in. It was my opportunity to compete for a power five school.
Ed Hunt: What made you pick NIU out of high school?
Ryan Roberts: Very similar reason I transferred to Florida State. I prayed for me for a sign and it just pulled me in and I committed.
Ed Hunt: What position is your best fit at the next level?
Ryan Roberts: The one that gets me on the field. I’ll punt, it doesn’t matter. I just want to play.
Ed Hunt: What is your biggest sport outside of football?
Ryan Roberts: I grew up and played AAU basketball. I golf too. I like golf because it’s less taxing on the body.
Ed Hunt: What is your biggest accomplishment in that sport?
Ryan Roberts: Honestly, it’s more of a team effort. Our AAU team was ranked. We had some really good players who played major conference, division 1 basketball. My greatest accomplishment was just helping the team.
Ed Hunt: What are your strengths?
Ryan Roberts: I think overall number one is passion. I love it and it’s been instilled in me as a kid. I try to be the hardest worker in the room and I hate someone outworking me. Whether it’s weights or someone outrunning me. I pick up playbooks and I am a student of the game. Overall, those are my biggest traits.
Ed Hunt: What are your weaknesses?
Ryan Roberts: I wouldn’t say it’s a weakness, but my biggest opportunity to improve is technique. I moved from tight end to tackle and had to put on weight. Since I am so young at the position, technique can help me continue to grow.
Ed Hunt: What was the highlight of your career?
Ryan Roberts: I’ve been extremely blessed with a lot of different things. I think we had out last practice as a Seminole and everybody came and shook my hand. They were thankful that you chose Florida State over being able to go anywhere else. Them seeing Christ in me. The impact the team had on me and those guys.
Ed Hunt: What is your biggest accomplishment in college?
Ryan Roberts: I would say the fact that I graduated Cum Laude with an engineering degree. To be able to do it at a high level. I made the Dean’s list a couple times. It isn’t as easy to hit the books than it is to go through the tasks of playing football.
Ed Hunt: What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?
Ryan Roberts: I learned so much this last year. Coach Clem taught me so much. Just little ins and outs of the position. How to read defenses quicker. It’s a lot harder for me to understand. You are in a backpedal and trying to stop someone going full force. You learn a lot about kinesiology of how the body works together. It was such a great thing to learn from my coaching staff.
Ed Hunt: What is your favorite NFL team?
Ryan Roberts: I don’t necessarily have a favorite. Lions and Bears are my favorite because that’s who my Dad played for. Honestly, I just watch a lot of the offensive line play.
Ed Hunt: Who is an NFL player you model your career off of?
Ryan Roberts: There’s not one. There’s a lot. I try to learn from a lot of sources. For a right tackle, Lane Johnson. La’el Collins, Terron Armstead, Jason Peters, Trent Williams, Matthews on the Falcons, and Taylor Lewan. Even when I played guard, I watched Marshall Yanda.
Ed Hunt: What is the most important trait for an offensive lineman?
Ryan Roberts: I think for anybody it’s work ethic. If you don’t work hard every day, you aren’t going to do well especially as an offensive lineman. When you hear an offensive lineman’s name, it’s a ten-yard penalty. You have to work.
Ed Hunt: Before the ball is snapped, what tendencies are you looking for in the defense?
Ryan Roberts: It depends on who you are playing. There are different tells depending on the team’s formation and their tendencies. There’s a lot to it. If you are playing a heavy blitz team, what are they showing.
Ed Hunt: What players from your team should we keep an eye on for next year?
Ryan Roberts: Marvin Wilson. The dude is a dog and works his tail off. He wants to be the best. Obviously, Scary Terry (Tamorrion Terry) out wide. I don’t want to leave anybody out. I think our team is loaded at every position. I’m excited because they are going to be a very good team next year.
Ed Hunt: Who is the best player you have faced on an opposing team?
Ryan Roberts: When I was at Northern Illinois and we played against Florida State. We got matched up against Brian Burns.
Ed Hunt: What do you enjoy most about football?
Ryan Roberts: Everything. Absolutely everything about it. Playing for God. There’s no better feeling than going out with your brothers and playing your heart out every day. Every play matters. There’s no better feeling than moving a man against his will. This game is so unique and so amazing. There’s no comparison to it.
Ed Hunt: What makes you unique?
Ryan Roberts: I would just say my work ethic. I am going to work my tail off. I am going to give you every last bit of energy. You know when I am there, I am working and that’s never going to change.
Ed Hunt: What are your hobbies?
Ryan Roberts: I listen to a lot of podcasts and church services. I watch sports. I play golf. I like HGTV or ESPN. I’m not an exciting person. It doesn’t take a lot to keep me satisfied or entertained.
Ed Hunt: What do you want to do with your life after your football career?
Ryan Roberts: I don’t have an answer for that. The number one thing I want to do is impact people. I want to show the love of God through everything. I want others to see that through. I want to work to be the best I can be. I know whatever I do, I’m going to work to be successful at it.
Ed Hunt: What five words best describe you?
Ryan Roberts: Christian, dedicated, determined, ambitious and diligent.
Ed Hunt: Why should an NFL team draft you?
Ryan Roberts: I think because I am going give you everything I have. If you pick me, I am going to be a student of the game, I’m going to represent your team well and bottom line, I’m someone who loves football. I like to think of myself as a smart person, faith-driven and hard-working.
