he broke several prep football records. in his senior year at mcminnville, roberts led the "big blue" to a 10–0 record and a state title. roberts tallied 520 yards rushing in one game, and 6,730 yards on the season. colleges flocked to recruit roberts, but it came down to tennessee and vanderbilt. after watching robert neyland yell at one of his players in the game against florida, roberts picked vanderbilt. "if he talked to me like that, there would be the damnest fight you ever saw."