While many people know DJ Roberts for his football accolades, he has been just as successful off the field as well.
Roberts was born and raised in Knoxville, Tenn., and attended Austin-East High School. From an early age, he learned the value of education and that it cannot be replaced.
Roberts likes to live by Malcolm X’s phrase, “Education is our passport to the future. For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”
With that as a constant reminder, he doesn’t take a second of his education for granted.
Roberts, a Health and Human Performance K-12 major, not only values his education, but also the education of others.
Roberts chose Health and Human Performance for his love of working with children and wanting to keep them fit. Throughout the year, he participates in what is known as a “pig skin pal.” He visits Martin Elementary and plays with and reads to the students.
“I really enjoy interacting with the kids and knowing that I play a role in their lives,” Roberts said.
Besides education, family played a role in Roberts attending UTM.
“My cousin, Kenny Jones, was playing here at the time,” Roberts said. “We always wanted to play college football together. On my visit, it also felt like a family-oriented team, which helped me decide to come here.”
Roberts credits his mother for helping him become the person and player he is.
“My mom motivates me,” Roberts said. “She showed me that hard work pays off. She works two jobs, sometimes three, to provide for my sisters and [me]. I truly thank her for that.”
The hard work that his mother instilled in him really paid off in last year’s season. Roberts earned All-Ohio Valley Conference second team defense and OVC Defensive Player of the Week in a win against SEMO with eight tackles. At the end of the season, he ranked third in the OVC with tackles for loss (11.5), fifth with fumble recoveries (two) and racked up 53 tackles (28 solo). He also recorded a season-high nine tackles (six solo) in a win at Memphis.
“My favorite football moment is last year when I blocked the field goal against Eastern Kentucky University to give us the win. That was our first time in school history to beat EKU.”
After a long day of working hard in the classroom and on the field, Roberts likes to wind down by playing video games, fishing or working out. Roberts is a guy that loves the simple life but also has big dreams. After he graduates in the spring, he plans on pursuing his dream of the NFL, his Master’s degree and becoming a football coach. He also dreams of traveling to Paris and taking a picture under the Eiffel Tower.
Looking back over his time at UTM, Roberts has enjoyed all of it. The memories made and the people he has met are priceless. He says he not only learned about himself but the world.
“I wouldn’t change anything I experienced during college,” Roberts said. “What I went through made me the strong man I am today. One important thing college has taught me is responsibility. To the current and future UTM students, have fun while you’re in college but remember why you are here. Education is always first.”
