The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516256
PLAYER BIOS ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ MARCH 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 59 BY ZACH LIBBY As soon as he stepped foot on the Michigan campus, big Ben Roebuck, a 6-foot-7, 330-pound lineman from prep powerhouse St. Edward High in suburban Cleveland, the heart of Ohio State country, knew where he wanted to play in college. "Michigan was the place for me," Roebuck told The Wolverine. "The first time I walked through the doors, it was for my second Junior Day ever and was on a Sunday. It felt special because most are on Saturdays. "The first time I stepped into that place, it felt like home for me. Every- one was so nice and welcoming. The facilities are beautiful, and they blew everyone else out of the water. That's how the next four or five years are going to be for me." Roebuck was also enticed by the Michigan O-line's performance, hav- ing earned the Joe Moore Award as the nation's best offensive line in 2021 and 2022. Head coach Sherrone Moore, for- merly the offensive coordinator and line coach before his promotion in January, secured five offensive line signees in this cycle, including Roebuck. The second 2024 offensive lineman to come onboard, he followed Luke Ham- ilton, who attends high school less than 30 minutes away. Their friendship blos- somed during their visits to Ann Arbor as well as like-minded aspirations of leaving their home state of Ohio for the reigning national champions. The pair were soon joined by fellow linemen Andrew Sprague, Blake Frazier and Jake Guarnera, forming a bond that was forged before they signed. "We're tight," Roebuck said. "At my high school right now, it's all about brotherhood, and I feel like I'm con- tinuing that at the next level. Coach Moore actually got on FaceTime with all of us and said that we're the tightest group of offensive line commits that he's ever seen. He has experience play- ing at Oklahoma and has coached at Michigan for a while, so that speaks to how close we are. It's going to be a great four years." After his January 2022 Junior Day visit, he didn't return until the end of his junior season. He then made three trips to campus in a span of less than three months before committing. "A big thing for my parents is hon- estly and not being superficial," Roe- buck said. "That's exactly how Coach Moore was the first time we met him. My dad was with me on my first visit there, and he said he absolutely loved Coach Moore." Roebuck capped off a historic high school run by leading powerhouse St. Edward to three Ohio Division I state titles in four years and will join a U-M program that just won the national championship. He projects to remain at the right tackle position, but there will be dif- ferences in how he operates that will be developed by Moore and new offensive line coach Grant Newsome. "In high school, I did more of a two- point stance," Roebuck said. "Coach Moore said that Michigan goes into a three-point most of the time, and he's been helping me out with my stance." ❑ 2024 Projection Size can't be taught, and Roebuck will en- ter his first-year at Michigan with a colossal frame and intrigue as to how the program strength and condi oning staff will mold him into a Big Ten-caliber tackle. Roebuck needs improvement with footwork, bend and mobility, and adjus ng his playing weight to where those areas won't be hindrances will be a priority. A redshirt year in 2024 will help Roebuck focus on his development and adjustment to the college level. HONORS • Team won three straight OHSAA Division I state championships (2021-23). • Played in the 2023 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in Frisco, Texas. • MaxPreps High School Football first-team All- American (2023). • Ohio first-team All-State recipient in 2022 and 2023. • MaxPreps Sophomore second-team All- American in 2021. RECRUITMENT • Pledged to Michigan on March 22, 2023, a er receiving offer in January 2022. • Picked U-M over notable offers from Michigan State, Penn State and Cincinna . • Recruited by head coach Sherrone Moore. DID YOU KNOW? • Will enroll at U-M in June. • Son of Doug and Cindy Roebuck. • Born on Jan. 1, 2006. THEY SAID IT On3 Director of Scou ng and Rankings Charles Power: "The best a ribute that Roebuck has is his length. He has very long arms. He's not the best athlete, but the length helps compensate for that. The biggest thing we want to see from Roebuck is improving his movement skills. But he has a huge frame. When you look at offensive line prospects that Michigan likes, Roebuck fits that." BEN ROEBUCK OFFENSIVE TACKLE 6-7 • 330 ST. EDWARD YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ 607 39 23 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 70 37 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 55 25 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 43 18 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 37 16 INDUSTRY Colossal Ohio Lineman Ben Roebuck Joins U-M Brotherhood Roebuck was named a MaxPreps High School Football first-team All-American on the offen- sive line as a senior after helping Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward to three straight Division I state championships. PHOTO BY ZACH LIBBY