As a proud alumnus from Scott High School, there was no other option than to speak with one of the Skyhawks best football players and all-around best athlete, Jordan Roberts. Jordan is from a small town just off interstate 119 called Yawkey, West Virginia. Other than being a coal mining town and close to the home of the legendary pilot Chuck Yeager, this area of West Virginia was never known to be able to produce an NFL prospect such as Roberts. A small double-A school in Madsion, West Virginia, Scott High School, was where many people got to witness one of the greatest running backs in all of West Virginia High School Football.
Roberts played a combination of quarterback and running back during his high school career. It seemed like nobody on the opposing teams could do anything about Robert’s ability to escape situations and take off down the sidelines. His junior year in 2007, Jordan won the Kennedy Award which is given to the best player in the state of that year. During his senior year campaign, he rushed for over 3,826 yards (State Record), averaged 11.36 yards per carry, 48 rushing touchdowns, 686 passing yards, 7 passing touchdowns, 115 tackles on defense with a combined total of being responsible for 56 touchdowns for the Skyhawks in 2008. “High school football seemed fairly easy to me. I always had a feeling that I was going to be stronger and faster than whoever we were facing that week, even if I wasn’t I didn’t care, and you weren’t going to stop me.” Said Jordan when asked on his mindset during his early playing days. “I had a great team around me so that just made it even better. I just wanted to prove a point that someone like me from a small town can compete just like anyone else from a highly recognized area such as the high school football scene in Texas or Florida.” Being a small school in one of the poorest counties in the state, recognition was hard to come by. Jordan received offers from small schools around the state but decided to join the West Virginia Mountaineers as a preferred walk-on. “West Virginia University seemed like the right choice honestly and I felt like this was my first big chance to show people southern West Virginia football was no joke.” This did not pan out the way he thought. Roberts was assigned to the offensive and defensive scout team and was redshirted his freshman year in 2009 and won the Scout Team Player of the Year. To put in perspective, Jordan was playing behind other running backs such as Noel Devine and Shawne Alston. “I had no issue with their decision, and I completely understood what I was getting myself into, but I had an insane desire to play.” After Jordans freshman year at WVU, he decided to transfer to a division two school, University of Charleston, which was only about 30 minutes away from his high school. “Of course, I did not want to leave, but I felt like I could be so much more use to another team if I had the chance and UC gave me that chance.” That chance was not taken for granted as for what happened the next 3 years. In 2010, Jordan only rushed for 381 yards on 79 attempts and had almost 100 yards receiving with 12 total touchdowns that season. “I guess it was a good comeback season, but I definitely felt like I had more in me, but I assumed they were just feeling me out on my first year back,” said Roberts when asked what it was like finally getting real game time since high school.
In 2011, Jordan was finally given the starting role and he didn’t look back. Posting 1,430 rushing yards on 206 attempts, he was also a terror on kickoff and punt return finishing the year with 2,274 all purpose yards and 18 total touchdowns. His senior year in 2012 was completely identical in terms of numbers. On November 10, 2012, Jordan had scored five rushing touchdowns and set the NCAA Division II rushing record for a half (273) and ran for a total of 301 yards. Jordan stated he doesn’t remember much from that game. “It seemed like a blur almost. It was just another ordinary game in November, and I just remember at one point I knew I was doing pretty good, but I didn’t pay much attention and just wanted to finish the game out. I do not really think about it all that often other than I did pretty well.”
I got to speak with Jordan’s high school coach and previously featured, Shane Griffith on what it was like coaching him. “You couldn’t ask for a better kid to coach. He just had it all and didn’t say anything about it.” – “There were times I thought I was in a dream during practices seeing the things he was capable of. Not only was he a standout player, but the way he was a team guy and held everyone accountable along with himself, it was just a true sight to behold.” Jordan had fallen into the grasp of Coach Griffith during his prime coaching stent with the Skyhawks during the late 2000s and the two led the team farther into the playoffs than any other team has been before. “The work he put in was ungodly, I have never seen anyone so dedicated to something in my life.” There was no doubt that Jordan was a superstar during his high school career. I also got to speak with former Scott High football player, assistant coach, and Fairmont State standout, Nick Shreve on what it was like training Jordan. “The dude would seriously outwork me and what I was doing. He would be at the fieldhouse earlier than all the coaches and players and probably did a harder workout than we were about to do that day.”
In 2013, this was when things started to get serious for Jordan. He was invited to participate in an NFL Combine workout held by the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys at Fairmont State University to showcase himself in front of NFL scouts. “It was a cool experience to be able to participate in something that I have grown up watching on TV, so I did the best I could.” Jordan put up very good numbers with a 4.49s 40-yard dash, 6.91s three cone drill, and a staggering 29 reps on the bench press. Finally, April rolls around and the draft is underway. Jordan was not selected in any of the rounds but was signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs. “When I got the call, I was just in disbelief that someone would still think of me even when the draft was over.” Following the call, Jordan set off to fulfill his lifelong dreams of being in the NFL. After rookie minicamp, Roberts signed a practice squad contract and was assigned as a running back, full back, and returner for the Chiefs. Jordan saw playing time at full back during a preseason game against the saints and had a catch for 9 yards. That would ultimately be his only stat within the NFL since the Chiefs decided to cut him during the 53-man roster finalization. “Sure, I was upset, but I had to look at it as an opportunity that I gave my all in and coming where I come from, that’s not so bad.” Later on that year, Jordan signed with a brand new expansion team within the Canadian Football League known as the Ottawa Redblacks. Jordan had the same experience as he had with the Chiefs given the Redblacks cut him prior to training camp in 2014. In Jordans final two years of professional football, he played in a arena league with the Florida Black Tips in 2014, and then with the Wichita Falls Nighthawks in 2015.
“After 2015 I had realized that my football career was over and I was okay with that, I was already working in another job that I love, and it was easy to make the transition.” – Jordan when asked if he missed playing football. Jordan is now happily married and lives in Oklahoma with his wife. He used his business administration degree he earned while at the University of Charleston and is the head of a marketing firm who handles business with fortune 500 companies around the globe. “I would not change my life journey for anything. I got to do some amazing things and meet a lot of people all while doing what I love. Can’t ask for anything better.”
Tanner Halstead 