Julian Sayin dropped back, Nate Roberts slid through the seam, and suddenly nobody was within yards of him. He caught the ball near midfield and ran the rest of the way, a 68-yard touchdown that put Ohio State up 14-3 on Maryland late in the first quarter. Eleven Warriors called it the longest touchdown ever by an Ohio State tight end.
For many fans, that play was an introduction. For the people inside the program, it was the payoff of a long build. Here’s who Roberts is, why he has people excited, and how he could matter when the Buckeyes visit Indiana on Saturday.
From Oklahoma to Columbus
Roberts is 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, from Washington, Oklahoma. He was a four-star recruit who picked Ohio State over Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon and Penn State. As a high school senior he caught 46 passes for 904 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he also played baseball.
Even then, he knew what kind of player he wanted to be. He said he didn’t want to be known as only a pass-catching tight end or only a blocking one. He wanted to be known as both.
The Slow Build
Roberts’ first year in Columbus wasn’t flashy. He played in 13 games as a freshman, and many of his snaps came at fullback in short-yardage and goal-line packages. It was the kind of role that doesn’t fill a stat sheet, but Ryan Day has said that year built a foundation of trust.
That trust showed in the spring. Roberts led the tight end depth chart from start to finish and caught four passes for 41 yards in the spring game. Tight ends coach Keenan Bailey said he took a real step forward, starting in the weight room. Now, as a sophomore, he’s a starter.
What Makes Roberts Different
He does both jobs. Tight ends at Ohio State block first, then catch. Roberts is one of the few who can do both well. After the Maryland game, Roberts said the group wanted to show it’s a threat in the pass game, not only a run-blocking unit.
The production is climbing. Roberts had just two catches for 34 yards in the first two games, then scored his first Ohio State touchdown against Kent State. He had four catches against Illinois. Now he has 10 catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns, which makes him the Buckeyes’ fourth-most prolific receiver. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has said his stats tell only part of the story.
He’s earning his teammates’ respect. Sayin said it’s awesome to see the tight ends get in the end zone, especially given the dirty work the group does.
Why Fans Have Reason to Love This
I think the appeal is simple. Roberts waited his turn, did the unglamorous work at fullback, and then made history in his first season as a starter. Fans love a player who earned it.
There’s also the bigger picture. With Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin out against Maryland, the tight ends stepped in and delivered. Roberts and Mason Williams both scored. That’s a sign Ohio State’s offense has more weapons than people realized.
How Roberts Can Help Beat Indiana
- Attack the middle of the field. Against Maryland, Roberts got wide open over the middle out of a two-tight-end set. Indiana’s defense is a much tougher test, but if Ohio State’s receiver depth is still thin, a tight end who can stretch the seam gives Sayin another answer.
- Be an outlet against pressure. Indiana sacked Sayin five times in last year’s title game, and the right side of Ohio State’s line struggled against Maryland. A tight end who can get open gives Sayin somewhere to go when the pocket gets tight.
- Win in the run game. Ohio State ran for 207 yards against Maryland, its first 200-yard game since the season opener. Indiana held the Buckeyes to 2.2 yards per carry in the title game. Tight ends will have to win blocks, and Roberts is exactly the kind of player the plan needs.
A fair warning: Roberts had one catch against Maryland, and Indiana is a different level. Nobody should expect another 68-yarder. His real value is being a reliable, versatile option.
My Take
Roberts is the kind of player who can decide a big game without owning the headlines. If he wins his blocks and makes a couple of timely catches, Ohio State’s offense becomes much harder to defend.
If you want my full Indiana breakdown the moment it drops, subscribe so you don’t miss it. And tell me in the comments: will Roberts make another big play on Saturday?
