Roberson's story not written in stone

When assistant coach Tyron Carrier accepted the job at West Virginia, one of the first names he brought up on the recruiting trail to the rest of the staff was Mesquite (Tx.) Horn wide receiver Reggie Roberson.

Carrier was sold from the first time he saw Roberson as a high school sophomore at several summer camps and wanted to make sure he was on the radar for the rest of the coaching staff.

“I just loved him,” he said.

So he popped on the tape for rest of the coaches and while impressed at the time it was deemed that Roberson would be a difficult pull out of the Lone Star state. But Carrier didn’t give up.

He continued to maintain contact with the Texas wide receiver throughout the season and even brought his name up to some in coaching circles. That would eventually find its way back to Roberson which endeared him even more to the West Virginia assistant.

More offers came for Roberson over the next couple months and eventually the Mountaineers had a need for a wide receiver down the stretch and Carrier approached about a run at Roberson. It was late in the process, but he had little doubt that he could make things interesting at worst.

“They asked me if I thought I could get him and I said you have got to let me try,” he said.

So with a connection already there to start, Carrier began the process of trying to lure Roberson to Morgantown. It was admittedly a difficult balance as Carrier had to maintain a relationship as Roberson wondered why there was no scholarship offer forthcoming for most of the process. But Carrier maintained an honest approach about the situation and it resonated with Roberson.

The final push from West Virginia started with that scholarship offer in mid-January and the two having multiple conversations about the program and how he could fit into the air-raid offensive scheme.

On film, Carrier saw a wide receiver that remind him of himself with crisp route running as well as a Texas-sized chip on his shoulder from being told what he couldn’t do over the years. A possible addition to the class then became a priority for the young assistant.

“He just has the will to prove everybody wrong and whatever people say it isn’t written in stone so you can change some things,” Carrier said.

But it was one discussion in particular that sealed the deal for Carrier.

“I told him I was going to be brutally honest so I told him all of his flaws and he agreed. Not many kids agree to that. So many people pump their egos up and he was like coach I want to come here,” he said.

Roberson would haul in offers from a number of power five programs down the stretch pushing his total into the twenties, but that connection with Carrier along with the history of developing wide receivers in Morgantown was just too much to overcome.

When it came time to make a college choice, there was little hesitation. Although he did make the coaches wait for an announcement two-days before signing day where he picked West Virginia over three other finalists in Utah, Washington State and Illinois.

“Coach has been looking out for me a lot and has been there for me and knows a lot about me and my game and now it’s time for me to look out for him,” Roberson said.

The wide receiver is set to start his career at either the inside or outside spots and is also set to see time as a returner on the special teams units.

And when asked if there is a possibility for Roberson to see early playing time after an impressive senior campaign where he amassed over 1,100 yards and 11 touchdowns there was expectedly no hesitation from Carrier.

“Yes,” he said with a smile.