Dear Old Gold
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Hawkeyes Add Pennsylvania Playmaker To 2018 Class

By Joe Favia

Jan 2, 2017; Tampa , FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz talks with an official during the game against Florida Gators at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryon Houlgrave/The Des Moines Register via USA TODAY Network
Jan 2, 2017; Tampa , FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz talks with an official during the game against Florida Gators at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryon Houlgrave/The Des Moines Register via USA TODAY Network /
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The Summer months often times are when high school seniors make their decision on where they will attend college. The first to join the #Swarm18 for the Hawkeyes in the Summer was playmaker Terry Roberts out of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Roberts becomes the 7th known commitment to the Iowa 2018 recruiting class. The last recruit out of Pennsylvania to join the Hawkeyes, came from the incoming class in safety Geno Stone from New Castle, PA. Currently Roberts is ranked as the 27th ranked player in Pennsylvania according to 24/7 Sports.

In making the decision to join the Hawkyes, Roberts told ‘Dear Old Gold’ that it feels his hard work has paid off, and the Hawkeyes were straight up with him in the process :

It means that I’ve worked my tail off to get to where I am now but that still doesn’t mean anything, I still have a lot to prove in college.

The factor in joining the Hawkeyes was the love from the coaching staff but also the under-estimation of other colleges. Other colleges told me to be patient because they are waiting to see what another recruit is doing with his future and Iowa told me

to be myself and perform at their camp and that’s what I did to get the offer.

The Hawkeyes going forward need players to step up in the passing game, and in the secondary, and Roberts as he is going into his senior season at Cathedral Prep plays in all three phases of the game as he told us:

I will be playing offense, defense, and also special teams so I will be everywhere on the field this season.

Of course, the Erie, PA pipeline to Iowa City played a factor. Though it hasn’t been tapped in many years. Ed Hinkel came to Iowa from Erie, and finished seventh in catches all time and fifth in receiving touchdowns.

Roberts has a close relationship with two Erie to Hawkeyes defensive backs in former CFL Defensive Player of The Year Jovon Johnson, and former NFL Defensive Player of The Year Bob Sanders. Robert said about his relationship with Johnson and Sanders:

It means a lot to me knowing that I am carrying the Erie to Iowa tradition. I’ve known Bob Sanders since I was 8 years old and I’ve been working out with Jovon Johnson since I was 8 years old and to this day we still continue to workout with each other to make each other better players.

Growing up in an area that is nearly equidistant from from Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Cleveland, I asked if Terry which NFL team his allegiances lie with, he replied:

I am actually a Browns fan haha. My grandfather is a Browns fan along with my dad and when I was a kid I liked everything my dad did and my dream was to be like him but he always told me “son, I want you to be better than me in everything.” So the tradition kept going and I am currently a Browns fan.

Currently, one of the Browns cornerstone players is former Hawkeye linebacker Christian Kirksey who agreed to a 4-year contract extension. Alot of strong connections link the newly committed Roberts to the Hawkeye football program.