Wake Forest Athletics
Roberts Living Out a Dream at Wake Forest
10/5/2023 10:04:00 AM | Football
“My first tackle at Wake Forest was a sack. That’s definitely something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” - Jacob Roberts
Jacob Roberts always knew he belonged at the highest level of college football. Now, he's taking advantage of the opportunity to show that.
He's making quite a statement through the first four games as a Demon Deacon, leading the team in tackles (37), tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (5.5). He ranks in the top-20 nationally in both tackles and TFLs, while currently tied for second in sacks.
"He's so instinctive," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "Some guys are just good football players. Jacob, he's still learning the defense and his fits aren't always the way we teach them, but he's just such a productive football player.
"More times than not, he's right, it's just the handful of times he's wrong it can cost you. But he's just so instinctive and athletic, with really good ball skills."
As a grad transfer from neighboring NC A&T after coming out of Mallard Creek High School (Charlotte, N.C.), Roberts arrived at Wake Forest in time to participate in spring camp, where he got a lot of work with both the first and second string. By the time fall camp started, redshirt sophomore linebacker Dylan Hazen returned from a shoulder injury, and the two of them split time competing for a starting job beside senior captain Chase Jones. With Jones missing the first four games of the season with an injury, both Hazen and Roberts have been starting and playing most of the game.
"We all try to be flexible and learn both MIKE and WILL (linebacker positions)," Roberts said. "Dylan moves around the most and plays both of them. We're all learning, however, to be flexible as a linebacker unit.
"We're all in the same room and all want to see each other succeed. We're all going to get a chance to play, even our young guy Aiden Hall. I feel like my job is to go out there and give him a chance to get out there on the field."
Not only did Roberts get a start in the season opener against Elon, his first production was a quarterback sack in the 37-17 victory.
"It felt good to put on that jersey and see your last name on the back," Roberts said. "It was the first game of the season. We got out there and had fun. We played good defense and got the W, which was most important. It felt good to be back out there.
"My first tackle at Wake Forest was a sack. That's definitely something I'll remember for the rest of my life. It was great being back out there with the guys and getting a win, which was the most important thing."
The defense as a whole is making solid, incremental improvements in the second year under defensive coordinator Brad Lambert and linebacker coach Glenn Spencer.
"We strive for perfection in the linebacker room, but there are things that happen in games," Roberts said. "I did some good things, but I also did some things I could work on. I'm just trying to improve each and every week."
"Our goal is to go 1-0 each week. It's a one-week season. We play one game at a time. We're not looking back or forward. It's now. That's where our head is at."
Wake Forest defensive end Jasheen Davis is right behind Roberts nationally with five sacks of his own, and it's often Davis drawing a double-team from opposing offensive lines that opens up holes for Roberts to attack.
"That's the one dream every linebacker would have is to have a great defensive line," Roberts said. "We have that at Wake Forest. They do the things that don't show up on the stat sheet, and do the hard work to make our jobs easier. The defensive line has put me in position to make those plays. We're out there having fun and playing hard."
While thrilled with the production from Roberts and the rest of the Wake Forest linebackers, Clawson looks forward to the day when they're back to 100 percent health at the position group.
"He's a really good football player and one of those guys that the more he plays, the more comfortable he gets and the better he's going to be," Clawson said about Roberts. "Right now we're in very good shape at linebacker, but it'd be really good to have Chase back."
Having early-season success hasn't been much of a surprise to Roberts.
"I knew when I got here that I was always a high-caliber player," he said. "I knew I was a linebacker who could play with the best, and every time I step on the field I'm going to show why I'm in this position."
He's making quite a statement through the first four games as a Demon Deacon, leading the team in tackles (37), tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (5.5). He ranks in the top-20 nationally in both tackles and TFLs, while currently tied for second in sacks.
"He's so instinctive," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "Some guys are just good football players. Jacob, he's still learning the defense and his fits aren't always the way we teach them, but he's just such a productive football player.
"More times than not, he's right, it's just the handful of times he's wrong it can cost you. But he's just so instinctive and athletic, with really good ball skills."
As a grad transfer from neighboring NC A&T after coming out of Mallard Creek High School (Charlotte, N.C.), Roberts arrived at Wake Forest in time to participate in spring camp, where he got a lot of work with both the first and second string. By the time fall camp started, redshirt sophomore linebacker Dylan Hazen returned from a shoulder injury, and the two of them split time competing for a starting job beside senior captain Chase Jones. With Jones missing the first four games of the season with an injury, both Hazen and Roberts have been starting and playing most of the game.
"We all try to be flexible and learn both MIKE and WILL (linebacker positions)," Roberts said. "Dylan moves around the most and plays both of them. We're all learning, however, to be flexible as a linebacker unit.
"We're all in the same room and all want to see each other succeed. We're all going to get a chance to play, even our young guy Aiden Hall. I feel like my job is to go out there and give him a chance to get out there on the field."
Not only did Roberts get a start in the season opener against Elon, his first production was a quarterback sack in the 37-17 victory.
"It felt good to put on that jersey and see your last name on the back," Roberts said. "It was the first game of the season. We got out there and had fun. We played good defense and got the W, which was most important. It felt good to be back out there.
"My first tackle at Wake Forest was a sack. That's definitely something I'll remember for the rest of my life. It was great being back out there with the guys and getting a win, which was the most important thing."
The defense as a whole is making solid, incremental improvements in the second year under defensive coordinator Brad Lambert and linebacker coach Glenn Spencer.
"We strive for perfection in the linebacker room, but there are things that happen in games," Roberts said. "I did some good things, but I also did some things I could work on. I'm just trying to improve each and every week."
"Our goal is to go 1-0 each week. It's a one-week season. We play one game at a time. We're not looking back or forward. It's now. That's where our head is at."
Wake Forest defensive end Jasheen Davis is right behind Roberts nationally with five sacks of his own, and it's often Davis drawing a double-team from opposing offensive lines that opens up holes for Roberts to attack.
"That's the one dream every linebacker would have is to have a great defensive line," Roberts said. "We have that at Wake Forest. They do the things that don't show up on the stat sheet, and do the hard work to make our jobs easier. The defensive line has put me in position to make those plays. We're out there having fun and playing hard."
While thrilled with the production from Roberts and the rest of the Wake Forest linebackers, Clawson looks forward to the day when they're back to 100 percent health at the position group.
"He's a really good football player and one of those guys that the more he plays, the more comfortable he gets and the better he's going to be," Clawson said about Roberts. "Right now we're in very good shape at linebacker, but it'd be really good to have Chase back."
Having early-season success hasn't been much of a surprise to Roberts.
"I knew when I got here that I was always a high-caliber player," he said. "I knew I was a linebacker who could play with the best, and every time I step on the field I'm going to show why I'm in this position."
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