Kori Roberson rewarded for once again overcoming adversity

SMU defensive lineman Kori Roberson had a little extra help as he corralled Louisiana Tech quarterback Hank Bachmeier’s pass he batted down. It wasn’t just the Oklahoma transfer’s first game as a Mustang. It was also the first since his grandfather, James White, passed away.

“I felt like his hand was on that ball when I smacked it and got that interception,” Roberson told On3. “He got that straight to my hands. I did it for him above.”

Roberson had to think for a second before jogging the interception into the endzone, giving the Mustangs a 14-0 lead.

“I just saw it float like a rainbow right in my hand. And I just, when I had it, I looked at it for a second,” Roberson said. “Someone told me, man, run. Took off, and I took off, and I was so excited. The ball just felt smaller and smaller in my hands. I just, I said, man, cross this line, man. So when I crossed the line, there was this excitement.”

White was set to attend, but passed before he could see Roberson’s return to college football. He did leave one final message to the Manvel, Texas native.

“He was going to come down to my game,” Roberson said. “He called me the day before, but I was in class. Sent me a voicemail saying, ‘I didn’t want nothing, just wanted to talk to you. Get ready for that first game.’ To hear him say that and come out that next game, I was a little sad and frustrated, but I was going to dedicate this whole season to him.”

This spring, Roberson was hit with more adversity. A tornado ripped through his house in Norman that he shared with his sister in February, destroying many belongings. He was lucky overall though and is now returning to Norman, Okla. for a homecoming of sorts.

Going back to Norman with Roberson is Calvin Thibodeaux, a former Sooner player and assistant. Thibodeaux recruited Roberson and the pair has a strong relationship, which made the interception he hauled in even more special.

“It says a lot. I got coach Thibs behind me,” Roberson said. “He’s a second father figure to me. He tells me to keep my head up and if I need anything talking wise, he’s here for it. When I scored that interception, he looked at me and said that was for your pops, ‘you made him proud. Keep doing what you’re doing, grinding. I know you’ve been through a lot, but that shows how tough you are. Keep balling every day.’

“He brought me out of something. He recruited me out of high school, played three years with him at Oklahoma. Wonderful guy. Wo come back with him and play again, it’s a dream come true, man. He teaches me, pushes me, show me the right direction to go in. I’m blessed to have him, man, for real.”

In a deep SMU defensive line group, Roberson’s been a welcomed late addition. He committed to Arizona State before switching to SMU, where he wanted to be in the first place. Thibodeaux was excited for him to have that moment.

“He’s added value to the group. He’s been awesome, hungry, just just excited to get an opportunity to play ball. He made the most of his opportunity. I was really proud of him,” Thibodeaux said. “It was just awesome to see him do that man. I hugged him, told him that was for his grandfather, just happy for him to have an opportunity to finish what we started in Oklahoma together here is really special.”

Roberson confident in SMU’s chances to knock off Oklahoma

Now he heads into Norman as a visitor, something Thibodeaux did while at Tulsa already. For Roberson, it’s a new feeling and opportunity, but he sees a team focused on the goal.

“I say it’s a very new opportunity. I’m excited. I’m excited for the team,” Roberson said. “We have something that we’re going for and we actually believe it. I see it in the practice every day, see it in the meeting rooms. We got a chance and I believe it, everybody else believes it. We just want to go out and show the world what we can do.”

Thibodeaux is focused on the on-field performance more than anything over what was a tough departure from Oklahoma.

“It won’t be no emotional feelings. It’s the next opportunity for us,” Thibodeaux said. “And truly, in Game 2, you want to see your group take the biggest jump. So excited about the opportunity to find out where we are as a program so I’m excited.”

SMU’s high expectations for the season can be heightened by an upset of the 18th-ranked Sooners.

“We got the talent. We have the skillset. We have the the attitude, the confidence,” Roberson said. “We’re gonna show the world what we can do. We’re gonna show we’re the Mustangs and we Pony Up. Everybody’s locked in.”

While he’ll catch up with plenty of familiar faces pregame, things change for Roberson come 5 p.m. CT.

“Once we hit that field, we ain’t friends after that.”