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A new number isn't the only thing Dezmen Roebuck has going for him this season, as the Washington Huskies' sophomore standout will also be shifting from the Z position inside to the slot after a stellar first year on Montlake.
The former three-star recruit from Marana High School in Arizona burst onto the scene during fall camp ahead of his freshman year and made himself indispensable to Jedd Fisch's coaching staff en route to a Freshman All-America campaign where he hauled in 42 catches for 560 yards and a freshman program record 7 touchdowns. Now, with more room to operate in the slot, the sure-handed pass catcher feels like he has a little more room to do as he pleases over the middle.
"I feel like I definitely have more freedom to do what I need to do to get open," Roebuck said of the position change. "I feel like outside, it was more technical, so you get a little more freedom."
Throughout his freshman year, Roebuck showed off an advanced skill set for his age, with one of his best traits being his feel for opposing defenses, constantly finding soft spots in zones, which helped turn him into a reliable security blanket for his youth teammate, quarterback Demond Williams Jr.
"I feel like it's a little bit of everything," he said of his ability to get open. "You've obviously got to take time out of your day to study with the coaches, study with the quarterbacks, study with other receivers in the room just so you are all on the same page and you have the quarterback's trust, but I also feel like I have a good feel for the game. I know a lot, and I've been through a lot of stuff. I played early, last year I played in a lot of games, so just knowing what I've got to do and where I've got to get to get open."
As for wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings, he chalked the move up to two things: Roebuck's intelligence and having no fear going over the middle of the field.
“He’s so smart, Dez has no fear going across the middle of the field,” Cummings said of the sophomore. “I think that’s huge when you’re looking at the slot. You guys saw in the Oregon game, when he caught the dig across the middle and took a big hit. So he’s got a lot of confidence going across the middle, but I would say the biggest thing is his football intelligence.”
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Dezmen Roebuck can thrive in slot role for Washington Huskies
Continue reading...
The former three-star recruit from Marana High School in Arizona burst onto the scene during fall camp ahead of his freshman year and made himself indispensable to Jedd Fisch's coaching staff en route to a Freshman All-America campaign where he hauled in 42 catches for 560 yards and a freshman program record 7 touchdowns. Now, with more room to operate in the slot, the sure-handed pass catcher feels like he has a little more room to do as he pleases over the middle.
"I feel like I definitely have more freedom to do what I need to do to get open," Roebuck said of the position change. "I feel like outside, it was more technical, so you get a little more freedom."
Throughout his freshman year, Roebuck showed off an advanced skill set for his age, with one of his best traits being his feel for opposing defenses, constantly finding soft spots in zones, which helped turn him into a reliable security blanket for his youth teammate, quarterback Demond Williams Jr.
"I feel like it's a little bit of everything," he said of his ability to get open. "You've obviously got to take time out of your day to study with the coaches, study with the quarterbacks, study with other receivers in the room just so you are all on the same page and you have the quarterback's trust, but I also feel like I have a good feel for the game. I know a lot, and I've been through a lot of stuff. I played early, last year I played in a lot of games, so just knowing what I've got to do and where I've got to get to get open."
As for wide receivers coach Kevin Cummings, he chalked the move up to two things: Roebuck's intelligence and having no fear going over the middle of the field.
“He’s so smart, Dez has no fear going across the middle of the field,” Cummings said of the sophomore. “I think that’s huge when you’re looking at the slot. You guys saw in the Oregon game, when he caught the dig across the middle and took a big hit. So he’s got a lot of confidence going across the middle, but I would say the biggest thing is his football intelligence.”
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Dezmen Roebuck can thrive in slot role for Washington Huskies
Continue reading...
