New England selects Elandon Roberts as their 214th pick
With the 214th pick, New England selected University of Houston linebacker Elandon Roberts in the sixth round of the NFL draft.
Roberts stands at 6-foot tall and weighs 235 pounds. On the leaderboard Roberts ranked number one in the nation with his 88 solo tackles. He was also fourth in the NCAA with 142 total tackles in one season. During Roberts’ first season as a starter, he had a remarkable season for the Cougars that included 19 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles. Roberts had a career-high 18 tackles in a comeback win over Memphis. He also played a big role in Houston’s 2015 Peach Bowl victory with 8 tackles, limiting Florida State running back Dalvin Cook to 33 rushing yards. His high tackle count obviously indicates a nose for the ball. Roberts improved his draft standings by running a 40-yard dash in 4.60-seconds.
Roberts’ was viewed as a team leader on and off the field while attending the University of Houston. Coach Tom Herman said, “He’s wasn’t even the same player in training camp that he was in spring ball” Coach Herman seemed to believe that Roberts is on the rise and he’s not wrong. Herman went on to say, “In spring ball he was just a stiff guy that we were hoping one of the young signees could come in and replace. He’s a self-made man.”
Like many of the new rookies, Roberts will be competing for a spot on the 53-man roster. Roberts’ intangibles and tackling ability likely make him worthy of a roster spot. He projects as a prototypical 1st and 2nd down linebacker that excels against the run. His chances of making the team likely hinge on his ability to contribute on special teams.
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