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Roberts, Ben
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Jersey Number 13
Ben Roberts
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 230
- Class:
- Redshirt Freshman
- Hometown:
- Haslet, Texas
- High School:
- Eaton
Bio
CAREER AWARDS & HONORS
2024 SEASON (SOPHOMORE)
2023 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN)
2022 SEASON (FRESHMAN)
HIGH SCHOOL
PERSONAL
- Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year (2023, R-Fr.)
- All-Big 12 honorable mention selection (2023, R-Fr.)
- Associated Press All-Big 12 second team (2023, R-Fr.)
- Second team Freshman All-American by The Athletic (2023, R-Fr.)
2024 SEASON (SOPHOMORE)
- Continued to be a mainstay at linebacker for the Red Raiders as only a sophomore … started in all 13 games, joining fellow linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and defensive backs C.J. Baskerville and Maurion Horn as the only players on the defensive side of the ball to do so … one of seven players overall on the team to start in all 13 games.
- Ranked second on the team with 83 tackles (38 solo), including 4.5 that went for a loss … has combined for 190 tackles now through his first two seasons as a Red Raider, the third-highest total among Big 12 players during that span (2023-24) … trails only the combined tackles totals of Baylor’s Matt Jones (195) and Iowa State’s Beau Freyler (191) over the past two seasons … total ranks 12th overall nationally among players who have played both seasons at the power-four level.
- Tied for third on the team for tackles for loss, trailing only Rodriguez (10.5) and defensive back A.J. McCarty (6.5) … shared the team high with three forced fumbles and was the overall team leader with six credited quarterback hurries … had at least a share of the team high for tackles in four different games overall.
- Recorded at least two tackles in all 13 games and had five or more stops in 10 of those contests … posted two double-digit performances to begin Big 12 play and finished with five or more tackles in seven of nine conference games overall … combined to make 61 of his 83 tackles on the season during Big 12 play, which ranked second on the team behind only Rodriguez … in fact, his 61 stops against league opponents topped the season totals on the team outside Rodriguez (127) and C.J. Baskerville (78).
- Credited with 657 defensive snaps by Pro Football Focus, which ranked fourth on the team and second in the linebacker room, trailing only Rodriguez … publication credited him with 18 pressures – five via quarterback hits and 13 on hurries … also saw time on special teams with 120 snaps as a regular member of the field goal block unit … inserted late in the season on kickoff coverage and occasionally throughout the year on kickoff returns, punt coverage and punt returns.
- IN BIG 12 RANKINGS: ended the season ranked 15th in the league for total tackles (83) and 16th for tackles per game (6.4) … was tied for third in the league alongside Rodriguez with three forced fumbles.
- SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
- Recorded seven tackles, including one for a loss, and forced a fumble in each of the first two games of the season against Abilene Christian (8/31) and at Washington State (9/7) … his forced fumble in overtime win over ACU came on the final play of the first quarter but was ultimately recovered by the Wildcats … play resulted in a two-yard loss and tackle for loss … fumble at Washington State, similarly, was recovered by the Cougars early in the first quarter … blew up a Washington State rush attempt on its opening play of the second quarter, eventually leading to a 3-and-out drive.
- Closed non-conference play with three tackles in the win over North Texas (9/14) … was one of only three times on the season to not finish with at least five tackles … other two occurrences were in November with two stops versus Colorado (11/9) and four in the regular-season finale against West Virginia (11/30).
- Began conference play with consecutive double-digit performances with 11 stops in the win over Arizona State (9/210 and 12 the next week against Cincinnati (9/28) … matched his career high with 2.0 tackles for loss in the win over Cincinnati, including one to start the third quarter that resulted in his third forced fumble of the season … Jacob Rodriguez picked up the fumble, setting up a Texas Tech scoring drive to take a 31-24 lead … big game against the Bearcats also included his first quarterback hurry of the season, which resulted in a pick-six interception by A.J. McCarty to extend Texas Tech’s lead to 41-27 early in the fourth quarter.
- Posted at least five tackles in each of the first six conference games after following with five stops at Arizona (10/5), six against Baylor (10/19) and then seven in back-to-back weeks at TCU (10/26) and Iowa State (11/2) … road win over the Cyclones also featured two quarterback hurries and a shared tackle for loss … first of two hurries led to another McCarty interception in the second quarter.
- Added seven tackles again in the win at Oklahoma State (11/23) to go along with another quarterback hurry … ended the season with five tackles and a quarterback hurry in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl versus Arkansas (12/27) … hurry started an eventual 3-and-out drive for the Razorbacks early in the fourth quarter.
2023 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN)
- Ranked among the top freshmen in college football during his first full season as a Red Raider … started the season as a backup linebacker only to turn in one of the top seasons by a freshman in school history … appeared in all 13 games with 12 starts after moving into starting rotation the second week of the season … only game to not start was the season opener at Wyoming.
- Ended the year as the Red Raiders’ leading tackler with 107 tackles (55 solo), including 6.5 for a loss and 0.5 sacks … marked the most tackles by Red Raider freshman dating back to 1980 … finished tied for second on the team in tackles for loss, trailing only Jaylon Hutchings (7.5) … added two forced fumbles, an interception and three quarterback hurries.
- Shared the team high in tackles in six different games, including five times during Big 12 play … reached double digits in tackles six times with five of those coming against Big 12 opponents.
- Credited with 775 defensive snaps by Pro Football Focus, which ranked second on the team behind only Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (815) … highly regarded by the publication, grading out at 79.6 in run defense and 85.8 as a tackler, which was second on the team in both categories behind only C.J. Baskerville … had an overall grade of 68.5 for the season by the website … created 12 pressures overall according to PFF’s analysis.
- Among the Red Raiders’ most active participants on special teams with 102 snaps on the season … saw most time on field goal block and punt coverage units but also inserted for punt return and kickoffs sparingly … had the most special teams snaps among Red Raiders considered to be regular starters.
- AWARDS AND HONORS: named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year by the conference coaches, becoming the first Red Raider in program history to win the award … an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection as well by the conference coaches … garnered second team All-Big 12 honors by the Associated Press … tabbed a second team Freshman All-American by The Athletic … marked the first time a Red Raider had collected Freshman All-America accolades since Austin McNamara in 2019 and the first time for a linebacker since Brian Duncan in 2007.
- IN TEXAS TECH RECORD BOOK: his 107 tackles on the season marked the most tackles by a Red Raider freshman dating back to 1980 … only the second Red Raider freshman during that span with at least 100 tackles in a season, joining Donald Harris, who had 104 stops in 1987.
- IN NCAA RANKINGS: closed the year ranked 40th nationally in total tackles (107) and 45th in total tackles per game (8.2) … shared the FBS high among freshmen for total tackles with Caleb Downs of Alabama … ranked second nationally among freshmen in tackles per game, trailing only Dillon Thieneman of Purdue who averaged 8.8 stops a contest over 12 games.
- IN BIG 12 RANKINGS: led all freshmen in the league and ranked tied for third overall with 107 total tackles … trailed only the totals of Nickolas Martin of Oklahoma State (140) and Jason Johnson of UCF (114) … again led all freshmen and was tied for third in tackles per game (8.2) … average bumped up to 9.2 tackles per game during Big 12 play, which ranked tied for third overall … also tied for third in the league with 83 total stops against conference foes, trailing Nickolas (99) and Johnson (84).
- SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
- Came off the bench for one tackle in the season opener at Wyoming (9/2), which went for a one-yard loss in the fourth quarter … marked the first tackle of his collegiate career.
- Made his first career start the next week against Oregon (9/9), finishing with 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a shared sack and forced fumble (went out of bounds) … marked his first career game with double-digit tackles and his first of six outings on the season … closed non-conference play with four stops in the win over Tarleton State (9/16).
- Reached double-digits again in each of the first two Big 12 contests and four of the first five overall, finishing with 11 tackles at West Virginia (9/23) and 10 versus Houston (9/30) … performance versus the Mountaineers included a shared tackle for loss and his first career interception, which came midway through the second quarter.
- Only game during that stretch without double-digit tackles was at Baylor (10/7), finishing with seven stops, including a career-high 2.0 for a loss … first of those two TFLs resulted in a 16-yard loss and a fumble, which was recovered by Baylor … other tackle for loss came on a 4th-and-1 attempt midway through the second quarter.
- Back in double digits each of the next two weeks with 11 stops versus Kansas State (10/14) and 10 at BYU (10/21) … posted six tackles in each of the next two home games in wins over TCU (11/2) and UCF (11/18) … had a nine-tackle performance sandwiched in between those two outings at Kansas (11/11) … reached double digits for the final time in the regular-season finale at Texas (11/24), notching a career-high 13 stops to go along with a quarterback hurry.
- Instrumental in the Red Raiders victory over Cal (12/16) in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl thanks to seven tackles, including 1.5 for a loss … stuffed Cal’s second drive of the game with a key fourth down stop near the goal line … added his second tackle for loss on Cal’s first play of the second half alongside Charles Esters III.
2022 SEASON (FRESHMAN)
- Redshirt season … appeared in two games overall, which came during Big 12 play in consecutive road trips to Kansas State (10/1) and Oklahoma State (10/8) … utilized in both of those games as part of the kickoff return and kickoff coverage units … scout team member.
HIGH SCHOOL
- Attended Eaton High School in his hometown of Haslet, Texas … moved to linebacker at the college level after playing safety in high school … helped lead Eaton to its winningest season in school history as a junior as part of a 9-4 team … season was capped by a run to the regional finals, which was the furthest in program history.
- Garnered first team All-District 4-6A honors as a senior after recording 74 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks over 10 games … versatile contributor for Eaton, serving as the punt returner as well with 21 attempts for an average of 13.4 yards … longest punt return came via a 52-yard explosive play midway through the season … previously tabbed the preseason District 4-6A Defensive MVP by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football prior to the season.
- Also a first team All-District 4-6A honoree again as a junior after logging 100 tackles and four interceptions … was an honorable mention All-State selection that season by the Texas Sports Writers Association (TSWA).
- One of the top prospects out of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in the 2022 class … consensus three-star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … listed as the No. 77 recruit in the DFW area and the No. 8 safety overall for the 2022 class by the Dallas Morning News … CHOSE TEXAS TECH OVER: Air Force, Army, Navy, North Texas, SMU, Tulsa, Utah State and Wyoming.
PERSONAL
- Ben Roberts … son of John Roberts and Carrie Roberts … has one older brother Lowell.
- Hobbies include hunting, fishing, and golfing.
- His career goals include becoming a physical therapist … majoring in kinesiology at Texas Tech.
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