'That guy's like the Hulk': Teammates impressed by Jaeden Roberts' strength
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Roydell Williams was dumbfounded when he walked into the Alabama weight room on Monday. The senior running back couldn’t believe how much weight offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts had placed on the bar before stepping into the squat rack.
“He had plates on plates on plates on plates,” Williams said Tuesday. “I’m like, ‘Is this guy really fixing to squat this?’ And it was like his first set, and I’m like, ‘Hold on. You’ve got like two other sets to go, man.’ But that guy’s like the Hulk, man. That boy’s strong. He’s physical.”
Roberts is in his third season at Alabama and took over the first-team role at right guard at the midway point of the regular season. Earlier this season, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban and some of his teammates praised Roberts’ work ethic in staying ready whenever his number was called at Texas A&M, and his effort in the weight room is just as impressive.
“I’ve never seen a weight that Jaeden Roberts couldn’t pick up,” said Alabama center Seth McLaughlin. “Whatever we put on the bar, it goes down and goes back up very, very fast. We might need to get a longer bar to put more weight on it to really show us how strong he is.
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“He’s an incredible person. He’s a freak of nature with how strong he is. It’s been nice playing next to him because his one hand is stronger than my two probably, so if he just sticks one hand out there, you get a lot of help from him.”
Roberts has started the last five SEC games, holding onto his spot in the lineup after replacing veteran Darrian Dalcourt. He has since been recognized as one of the Alabama coaching staff’s players of the week after the wins over Tennessee and LSU. On the year, Roberts holds a 79.7 pass-blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus, and an overall 75.6 grade.
A first-year contributor, Roberts has helped bolster the Crimson Tide offensive line.
“He comes ready to work,” Williams said. “Overall, he’s just a fantastic guy to be around. His energy is always there. It’s never negative, he’s always positive and he’s been a big help to the O-line.”
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