Steelers 2014 NFL Draft Player Profiles – Ohio State CB Bradley Roby

Good friend Dave-Te’ Thomas of Scouting Services has finished his player profiles of several of the top 2014 NFL Draft prospects and over the course of the next few weeks I will be posting the ones that the Pittsburgh Steelers will more than likely have interest in. Being as Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby was in for a pre draft visit recently, now is a good time to post his. Thomas has done these profiles for the NFL for several years and I know that many of you enjoy reading them.

BRADLEY ROBY
Cornerback
The Ohio State University Buckeyes
#1
5:11.2-194
Suwanee, Georgia
Peachtree Ridge High School

OVERVIEW

The Georgia native went away from the customary Southeastern Conference schools to make a name for himself, and was thrust into the starting lineup during his freshman campaign in Columbus. He would go on to start all thirty-six games he appeared in, carrying on the rich tradition the school has had in producing elite cornerbacks for the National Football League.

Since the two leagues merged back in the late 1960s, the National Football League has selected eight Ohio State cornerbacks and four safeties in the first round, with the last choice being Malcolm Jenkins, taken in the 2009 draft by the New Orleans Saints. With his blazing speed, raw power and deep coverage skills, Roby is hoping to become “Lucky 13” and add to the Buckeyes list of first round defensive backs.

Roby has seen his draft stock rise, thanks to the patient coaching he has received from the staffs installed at Ohio State. He received a three-star rating from both Scout.com and Rivals.com during his senior season at Peachtree Ridge High School. Scout.com regarded him as the 44th-best cornerback in the prep ranks, even though he also excelled on the other side of the ball as a wide receiver and as a return specialist.

Named the team captain for his final prep campaign, Roby received All-Region and All-Gwinnett County honors in 2009. He led the team to the state quarter-finals after making 42 tackles with six interceptions, adding 526 yards on 29 receptions. He reached the end zone five times as a receiver, twice with punt returns, another with a kickoff return, again with an interception, one more on a reverse and finally, with a fumble recovery.

Roby received the Iron Man Award from the Atlanta Touchdown Club and was named the Gwinnett Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Year. The track and basketball stand-out was a four-time scholar-athlete at the school, graduating with a 3.86 grade point average. He originally accepted a scholarship offer from Vanderbilt to play wide receiver, but changed his mind and decided to head north and play cornerback.

Roby enrolled at Ohio State in 2010, but spent the time red-shirting and adding some bulk to his once 173-pound frame. He emerged from 2011 fall camp as the starting right corner-back, ranking eighth on the team with 47 tackles (37 solos), making 3.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also picked off three passes for 57 yards in returns and broke up six other tosses. After the season, the coaches named him the team’s Outstanding First-Year Player, Defense.

Roby had a banner sophomore season, earning All-American second-team honors, as he was the only major college player to record a touchdown three different ways in 2012 – via an interception, recovery of a blocked punt and a recovery of a fumbled punt. Shifting to left cornerback, he registered 63 tackles (41 solos), gained 49 yards on a pair of pass thefts and tied the school season-record with seventeen pass deflections.

Roby had made his intentions known early in the 2013 schedule that it would be his final college football season. The All-American third-team pick remained at left cornerback, registered a career-high 69 tackles, which ranked third on the team. He deflected thirteen passes and ran back one of his three interceptions for a touchdown, also reaching the end zone again on special teams, scooping up a blocked punt vs. Northwestern and running it in from nine yards out for a touchdown.

Prior to Ohio State’s “Senior Day,” Buckeyes coach confirm that the 2013 campaign would be Roby’s last at the university and that the school would honor the cornerback during the festivities leading up to the Indiana contest. At the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine, the speedy Roby was clocked at 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash, the fourth-fastest clocking for any safety or cornerback at the event.

CAREER NOTES

Robey started all thirty-six games he played in at Ohio State, lining up at right cornerback for thirteen games as a freshman and his next twenty-four on the left side … Recorded 179 tackles (132 solos) with an 11-yard sack and 7.5 stops for losses of 42 yards … Deflected 36 passes and returned eight interceptions for 226 yards and a pair of touchdowns … School Career-Record Results … Roby ranks third in school annals with 226 yards gained via interception returns, topped by Mike Sensibaugh (248 yards; 1968-70) and Howard Cassady (230; 1952-55) … His two interception returns for touchdowns tied the school record he now shares with Malcolm Jenkins (2005-08), Brandon Mitchell (2003-06), Damon Moore (1995-98), Andy Katzenmoyer (1996-97), Neal Colzie (1972-74), William White (1984-87) and David Brown (1986-89) … School Season-Record Results … His 120 yards gained via interception returns in 2013 placed fifth on the OSU season chart, surpassed by Derek Ross (194 in 2001), Gary Berry (166 in 1997), Kurt Coleman (129 in 2009), Mike Sensibaugh (125 in 1969) and Fred Bruney (124 in 1952) … Scored a total of five touchdowns on defense and special teams.

SEASON ANALYSIS

2013 SEASON

Roby started the final twelve games at left cornerback, earning All-Big Ten Conference first-team honors from the league’s coaches and media … Missed the season opener vs. Buffalo due to a team rules violation … Still managed to finish third on the team with a career-high 69 tackles (54 solos), as he had two stops for minus six yards and blocked a pair of kicks … Deflected thirteen passes and intercepted three others, as his return yards total of 120 rank fifth on the school season-record chart, placing third in the league for the 2013 campaign … His thirteen pass break-ups also ranked third among Big Ten defenders … Batted down two passes and posted seven tackles (6 solos) vs. California, adding a 42-yard interception return the next week vs. Florida A&M … Followed with a 15-yard runback of a pass theft while also collecting eight tackles (6 solos) in the Wisconsin clash … Made seven tackles (5 solos) and scored when he returned a blocked punt nine yards vs. Northwestern … Delivered five solo stops with two deflected passes vs. Penn State and came up with six tackles, scoring on a 63-yard interception vs. Illinois … Gained 17 yards on a blocked punt return and made ten solo tackles while breaking up three passes vs. Michigan … Assisted on a stop behind the line of scrimmage and had six tackles (4 solos) vs. Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game.

2012 SEASON

Roby was named All-American second-team by Walter Camp and the Associated Press, along with being selected All-Big Ten Conference first-team by the league’s coaches and media … Appeared in and started all but the Alabama-Birmingham game, as he produced 63 tackles (41 solos), ranking third on the team … Had an 11-yard sack and two stops behind the line of scrimmage … Recovered a fumble, intercepted two passes for 49 yards in returns, including a touchdown, leading the team and conference with a school season-record seventeen pass break-ups … Also led the Big Ten and ranked ninth nationally with nineteen passes defended … Was the only defensive player in the nation in 2012 to score touchdowns three different ways (recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone vs. Miami of Ohio; recovered a blocked punt in the end zone vs. Indiana; and intercepted a pass vs. Nebraska and returned it for a touchdown) … The Thorpe Award semifinalist opened the season with six tackles, two pass break-ups and scored when he recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone vs. Miami (Oh.) … Had nine tackles (7 solos) with an 11-yard sack vs. California … Broke up two passes and delivered nine tackles, along with recovering a blocked punt for 11 yards vs. Michigan State … Recorded a pair of interceptions for 49 yards, including a 41-yard runback for a score, deflecting three other tosses to go with five hits vs. Nebraska … Batted down four passes and was in on five solo tackles vs. Penn State … Gained 47 yards on two kickoff returns and posted eight tackles (7 solos) in the season finale vs. Michigan.

2011 SEASON

The red-shirt freshman took over right cornerback duties, starting all thirteen games, recording 47 tackles (37 solos) with 3.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage … Gained 57 yards on three interceptions and deflected six other tosses … Had a 36-yard interception return vs. Illinois that set the Buckeyes up for a momentum-swinging, second-half score in the 17-7 win … Had his first career interception vs. the Miami Hurricanes and also picked off a pass vs. Michigan State … After the season, the coaches presented him with the First Year Defensive Player Award as the outstanding first-year player on defense.

2010 SEASON

Roby red-shirted during his first season in Columbus.

INJURY REPORT

2012 Season … Injured his shoulder after colliding with California wide receiver Keenan Allen, but missed just three plays in that game. He sat out the next game vs. Alabama-Birmingham and dealt with the injury for rest of the year … Was held out of contact drills in spring of 2013 when he was still bothered by shoulder issues.
2013 Season … Suffered bone bruise in his knee during the regular season finale vs. Michigan and elected to sit out the Orange Bowl vs. Clemson.

AGILITY TESTS

4.39 in the 40-yard dash … 1.52 10-yard dash … 2.56 20-yard dash … 4.04 20-yard shuttle … 38 ½-inch vertical jump … 10’-4” broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times … 31 ½-inch arm length … 10 ¼-inch hands … 75 ½-inch wingspan.

HIGH SCHOOL

Roby attended Peachtree Ridge (Suwanne, Ga.) High School, playing football for head coach Bill Ballard … Received a three-star rating from both Scout.com and Rivals.com during his senior season … Scout.com regarded him as the 44th-best cornerback in the prep ranks, even though he also excelled on the other side of the ball as a wide receiver and as a return specialist … Named the team captain for his final prep campaign, Roby received All-Region and All-Gwinnett County honors in 2009 … Led the team to the state quarter-finals after making 42 tackles with six interceptions, adding 526 yards on 29 receptions. He reached the end zone five times as a receiver, twice with punt returns, another with a kickoff return, again with an interception, one more on a reverse and finally, with a fumble recovery. ..Recipient of the Iron Man Award from the Atlanta Touchdown Club and was named the Gwinnett Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Year … The track and basketball standout was a four-time scholar-athlete at the school, graduating with a 3.86 grade point average.

PERSONAL

Roby is a Communications major … Son of Betty and James Roby … Born 5/01/92 in Fort Worth, Texas … Resides in Suwannee, Georgia.

PLAYER STATISTICS