Once an ACC afterthought, SMU star pass rusher Elijah Roberts is ready for redemption in 2024

Once a well-regarded national recruit, current star SMU defensive end Elijah Roberts opted for the University of Miami, playing for perennial power Christopher Columbus High School. Roberts was not short of options, rated as a four-star recruit by both Rivals and ESPN. At that point, he chose the hometown Hurricanes over other offers from Florida State, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Nebraska, Penn State, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, West Virginia, UCF, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and Indiana among several others.

The rest of the story didn’t quite go to plan for Roberts at Miami. During his three years with the program, the 6-4, 275-pound defensive end recorded just 21 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks. Obviously, his production was not what he imagined when he signed back in 2020.

Despite that less than stellar stretch, Roberts still looks back on his time with the Hurricanes fondly. Playing for your hometown team is something that kids dream about. It was a special time for the Florida native.

“Just being able to play in front of my family, I don’t think there was a game where I didn’t have five or more people there,” Roberts told The First Team Podcast . “That was probably the highlight of my time there. Being able to play against a Florida State being at Miami, playing at those rivalry games, just wearing the “U” on the side of my helmet was something I wanted to do as a kid. I’m glad I was able to do that.”

It wasn’t an easy decision, but Roberts was ready for the next chapter in his story. With big goals in mind, he wanted to find a place where he could showcase his talent. Roberts had one goal in mind.

“There’s so many people in the portal every year,” he explained. “Me leaving was when the portal first opened up. I wasn’t too big into the NIL stuff or playing at a specific school just because of the name. I just wanted to get on the field. Whether that was in this conference or that conference. I would have even gone down to DII if no DI team wanted me. I just wanted to play and I felt like if I could play meaningful snaps and be a guy who was counted on, I felt like I could produce.

“I entered the portal and Coach Coop and some of the other coaches at SMU were at Miami my first two years,” Roberts continued. “I believe about six coaches w4’ere there. I took my visit with a couple of teammates from Miami. It didn’t feel like I was coming from the state of Florida to Texas. It felt like I was still at home. It worked out in the best way for me.”

Saying that move paid off would be a massive understatement. In his first year with the Mustangs, Roberts finished with 37 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and ten sacks. That sack total finished second in the AAC conference.

I t’s a crazy world and now with SMU moving up to the ACC, Roberts finds himself back in the first conference he knew. He is a part of history, being a key asset and leader to help the Mustangs move up to the Power Four. This also offers Roberts a shot at redemption. He’s ready to make his mark in a conference that once undervalued him.

“If you know me, I am the biggest competitor,” Roberts explained. “I’m not the biggest social media guy so I don’t post a lot. Everyone around me tells me to get involved more. I have the biggest chip on my shoulder heading back to the ACC. I feel like I could do some really good things in the ACC. But talk is just talk until I do it. I just can’t wait for the opportunity.”

If he is able to replicate the production from last season, Roberts will continue to hear positive feedback from the NFL. Scouts are already very familiar with him, but now they get to see him on the bigger stage. It’s an opportunity he doesn’t intend to pass us.

“Ever since I started playing ball, it has been a dream,” Roberts said of the NFL chance. “I just want to make sure that I leave nothing to chance this year. I just want to put myself in the best position to get drafted, wherever that is. I just don’t want to have any regrets.”

The SMU season kicks off on August 24th at Nevada, which will kick off Roberts’ final campaign. Make sure to keep your eyes on No. 5 for the Mustangs. It promises to be a season of big moments and a lot of frustrated quarterbacks.