Big night for future Buff, Roberts wins four awards

CENTENNIAL, Colo. - Six Zero Strength founder and coach Matt McChesney forgave Colorado commit Terriek Roberts for not hustling up to the stage to collect his awards at the All-Colorado awards ceremony on Tuesday night. In total, the Denver (Colo.) South standout earned four awards, including Defensive Lineman of the Year.

Roberts was a little slower moving around at the event because of an injury he suffered late during his senior campaign. Roberts suffered a torn MCL as the result of a dirty play by an opposing player.

"I was afraid that it was my ACL but I am happy and I am blessed that it wasn't," said Roberts, who also won the Concrete Charlie award for being the top Two-way Player of the Year. "It is going to be four-to-five weeks and then I can start physical therapy."

Roberts will not have to undergo surgery and he is expected to be fully recovered from the injury well before he steps foot on Colorado's campus in June.

Although Roberts did not accomplish his overall goal of leading Denver South to a 4A state championship this year, he had quite an impressive prep career. In four years as a letterman with the Rebels, Roberts helped them to a total of 37 wins. Earning All-Colorado honors as a senior was a big deal to the 6-foot-6, 265-pounder.

"I have been working for it my whole high school career and I feel like it is about time I earned it," Roberts said. "I did well pushing through being tired [playing both ways] and all the hardships that we did go through this season. I feel like I handled that well and I led my team. I am excited for them next year because I feel like they are going to do well next year."

Arizona State, Kansas and San Diego State were among the colleges that tried to convince him to leave the state for college. And while Roberts has been verbally committed to Colorado since June, other programs have continued to try to recruit him.

"They try to get me to switch up but I am not switching up," Roberts stated. "I always wanted to be a Buff and it is about time that I become one. I am a Buff all the way."

Mike MacIntyre stopped by Roberts' home for a visit last Thursday and Colorado's head coach helped himself to a second serving of his father's lasagna. MacIntyre's message to Roberts during the in-home was simple.

"He said, 'Just keep up the good work, keep doing what you're doing and keep getting better," Roberts said. "Coach Mac and I have been in contact with each other since my sophomore year so our relationship is pretty natural."

Roberts then headed up to Boulder for his official visit last Friday. He spent much of his 48 hours on Colorado's campus last weekend with one of his former teammates, and one of his closest friends.

"[My player host] was my man Phillip Lindsay. I had a really fun time with Phil," Roberts said. "He is a Denver South alum and he was preaching to me the whole time, 'We need more Colorado kids here. I am tired of being the only Colorado kid here that is producing and that wants to work hard, so come up here with the right attitude.' … All we talk about at Denver South is everybody wants to be like Phil."

Another highlight of Roberts' official visit was seeing the new facilities. He toured the new players' lounge back in August, but the rest of the Champions Center was still under construction at the time.

"I have been up there so many times, it is kind of hard to learn something new but getting a chance to see the finished product of the new facilities was really great. Everything but the new indoor practice field is finished. I didn't know it was going to be this amazing. I was really impressed," Roberts said. "They are doing really good things at CU and I am happy that I'll be a part of it."

Roberts shined as a defensive lineman at one of Colorado's camps last June and he has the length required to play offensive tackle at the Pac-12 level. What side of the ball will he play on when he joins the Buffs?

"I asked Coach Mac that same question and he was like, 'Whatever you want to. Whatever your body decides, that is what you're going to play. Whatever you feel you are best at, that is what you're going to play,'" Roberts said. "I am leaning more towards the defensive side but I am a ball-player, I am ready to play anything."

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