Wake Forest Athletics
Roberson Prepared for His Time to Perform
10/7/2020 12:30:00 PM | Football, Les Johns
After learning from slot receivers Greg Dortch and Kendall Hinton, Jaquarii Roberson has made the most of his opportunities through three games in 2020.
Following in the footsteps of Greg Dortch and Kendall Hinton who came before them, Wake Forest slot receivers Jaquarii Roberson and Taylor Morin have been an early bright spot for the Demon Deacon offense.
Morin, a redshirt freshman, played one year with Hinton and has studied the tape of both Hinton and Dortch to help develop his game.
As a redshirt junior, Roberson played alongside both, and learned a lot from Dortch.
"You're never tired," Dortch often told Roberson, essentially resorting to a Jedi Mind Trick. "Just tell yourself you're not tired."
Whether working through sprints or go routes, the advice from Dortch actually worked.
"It's a mind thing," Roberson said. "It really helped."
Roberson entered the 2020 season with 13 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown. He had already matched those numbers in the first two games of the season with 11 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown grab against NC State.
"I haven't had the game experience coming into this year," Roberson said. "I've played a little bit here and there. I'm getting more snaps, getting different looks and starting to get more comfortable. So now I can go out and make plays."
Arriving as an all-state high school player who had 76 receptions for 1,370 yards as a senior at Hertford County High School (Murfreesboro, N.C.), Roberson had to wait his turn, playing behind the likes of Dortch and Hinton.
"I feel like I never had the opportunity to perform," he said. "I'm excited and ready to go against whoever is next. I just want to go out there and play.
"It's been difficult over the last two-or-three years. Everybody wants to play. I feel like when the opportunity comes, you have to be ready. I won't say I should have played, but I could have done more to play. But now I'm just looking ahead."
Splitting time with Roberson at slot so far this season is Morin, who has 12 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown.
"Every day we go into practice and tell each other the slots are going to have a good day," Roberson said. "It's just repetition. We watched film together, studied our film and got attached to each other.
"You always want to be in the game and plugged in. But Taylor needs to be ready. I don't mind. Whatever we can do to help the team win, that's the goal."
Roberson felt the leadership from Hinton in the receiver room last year, and wants to deliver the same for the young group assembled in 2020.
"I'm one of the older guys in the room," he said. "My performance matters, but my leadership is something I have to take to another level. I have to keep guys in the film room and keep guys on the sideline engaged. I try to make sure everybody is in the correct spots, by coaching the other receivers on the field."
The next step to get the Demon Deacon offense clicking is to connect with downfield passes from quarterback Sam Hartman to the stable of outside receivers.
"We have guys who can do that," Roberson said. "Those guys want to play and make plays on the field. There's a big emphasis on catching deep balls, executing and being sharp on our assignments. Catching deep balls is something we really need to do to get our offense going.
"I have to be the leader in the room. I hated to see Sage (Surratt) leave, but we have other receivers here who will step up and make big plays. But there's always work to be done. It's important for us to know that we have to make plays. I don't think the offense changed, and we're all confident. The coaches are confident in us."
And with standout performances under his belt to start the 2020 season, Roberson feels like this is the start of a big campaign.
"I don't think I've ever had this level of confidence," he said. "I'm just really excited and ready to go back out there and play a game. My confidence is sky high."
Morin, a redshirt freshman, played one year with Hinton and has studied the tape of both Hinton and Dortch to help develop his game.
As a redshirt junior, Roberson played alongside both, and learned a lot from Dortch.
"You're never tired," Dortch often told Roberson, essentially resorting to a Jedi Mind Trick. "Just tell yourself you're not tired."
Whether working through sprints or go routes, the advice from Dortch actually worked.
"It's a mind thing," Roberson said. "It really helped."
Roberson entered the 2020 season with 13 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown. He had already matched those numbers in the first two games of the season with 11 catches for 167 yards and a touchdown grab against NC State.
"I haven't had the game experience coming into this year," Roberson said. "I've played a little bit here and there. I'm getting more snaps, getting different looks and starting to get more comfortable. So now I can go out and make plays."
Arriving as an all-state high school player who had 76 receptions for 1,370 yards as a senior at Hertford County High School (Murfreesboro, N.C.), Roberson had to wait his turn, playing behind the likes of Dortch and Hinton.
"I feel like I never had the opportunity to perform," he said. "I'm excited and ready to go against whoever is next. I just want to go out there and play.
"It's been difficult over the last two-or-three years. Everybody wants to play. I feel like when the opportunity comes, you have to be ready. I won't say I should have played, but I could have done more to play. But now I'm just looking ahead."
Splitting time with Roberson at slot so far this season is Morin, who has 12 catches for 145 yards and a touchdown.
"Every day we go into practice and tell each other the slots are going to have a good day," Roberson said. "It's just repetition. We watched film together, studied our film and got attached to each other.
"You always want to be in the game and plugged in. But Taylor needs to be ready. I don't mind. Whatever we can do to help the team win, that's the goal."
Roberson felt the leadership from Hinton in the receiver room last year, and wants to deliver the same for the young group assembled in 2020.
"I'm one of the older guys in the room," he said. "My performance matters, but my leadership is something I have to take to another level. I have to keep guys in the film room and keep guys on the sideline engaged. I try to make sure everybody is in the correct spots, by coaching the other receivers on the field."
The next step to get the Demon Deacon offense clicking is to connect with downfield passes from quarterback Sam Hartman to the stable of outside receivers.
"We have guys who can do that," Roberson said. "Those guys want to play and make plays on the field. There's a big emphasis on catching deep balls, executing and being sharp on our assignments. Catching deep balls is something we really need to do to get our offense going.
"I have to be the leader in the room. I hated to see Sage (Surratt) leave, but we have other receivers here who will step up and make big plays. But there's always work to be done. It's important for us to know that we have to make plays. I don't think the offense changed, and we're all confident. The coaches are confident in us."
And with standout performances under his belt to start the 2020 season, Roberson feels like this is the start of a big campaign.
"I don't think I've ever had this level of confidence," he said. "I'm just really excited and ready to go back out there and play a game. My confidence is sky high."
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