Marshall Levenson - Pokes Report
Oklahoma State in Great Position With A Top 2021 OL Prospect
During Saturday’s ‘Cowboy Day’, the first of two junior day events for Oklahoma State, the staff hosted multiple high level recruits, both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. One of the premiere prospects that spent his Saturday on campus was Galena Park North Shore high school offensive guard Jaeden Roberts.
Roberts is one of the best interior linemen in the 2021 class, and is rated the #4 guard prospect by multiple recruiting sites.
Roberts is a highly sought after prospect, holding upwards of 25 offers, including the likes of LSU, Alabama, Florida, Wisconsin, and Texas. It would not surprise me one bit to see him hold 35+ offers by the end of his recruitment.
I was able to catch up with Roberts on his thoughts on his visit and his recruitment to this point.
“The visit was really good man, I got to see all of the facilities, sit down with the coaches, see the culture of the team, they really showed me a good time," Roberts said. "I’ve been on several visits in my recruitment and I can honestly say that this was one of my best visits.”
I asked Roberts with his large number of offers if he had a top group of schools and he opened up and said that he did.
He gave me an impressive top four of LSU, Alabama, Florida, and Oklahoma State.
I asked him if there was one thing that he liked about Oklahoma State above the others or one thing he enjoyed more than others and his message was loud and clear. It is offensive line coach Charlie Dickey
Dickey is one of the best offensive line coaches in the country and he is doing a great job proving that to Roberts. In our phone conversation, Roberts said, “There are a lot of coaches who have had success with linemen but with Coach Dickey, I know for sure he can help me progress and develop into the level of talent I know I can be at. I feel like I can reach a high peak in my career and I know Coach Dickey can get me there.”
This is high praise coming from the 6’6” and 350 pound monster interior lineman. However, the praise is granted, shown by the development of NFL prospects at both Oklahoma State and Kansas State, where he spent 10 seasons before his time here at Oklahoma State. This recruitment will 100% be commanded by Dickey and he has left a great impression with Roberts.
One thing that is sometimes found in premiere prospects is a slight ego or a bit a big head, but that is not Jaeden Roberts. One thing that stuck out to me with him was that although he realizes his talent and ability, he also admitted he knows he will have to develop and learn how to succeed in college.
“I play some good opponents in my district and that helps me but they will get better as they move on, so I will have to as well,” Roberts said.
In his first three years of his high school career, Roberts has had chance to block for the best running back in the class of 2020, Zachary Evans. He has also experienced winning at a high level, winning two state championships and he is no stranger to facing some of the best D-Lineman in the country at the high school level. He shows that he has the potential to compete with the best at the college level.
This should be a prospect that Oklahoma State fans keep their eye on for the long run. Roberts told me that he and the coaches are already in discussion about planning his official visit. He said it’s likely that will take place during the season, and that he is eager to get back.
“My visit for this junior day was the most fun I've ever had on a college visit.” Roberts summed up his Saturday in Stillwater.
