Big East school leads for Roberts

Cleveland (Ohio) Benedictine wide receiver Mike Roberts has accumulated nine scholarship offers thus far in the recruiting process and heads into the fall with one of those programs leading his list of favorites.

"At the moment, Louisville is at the top of my chart," Roberts said. "I talk to Coach [Larry] Slade frequently. I think I can go there and have a nice opportunity to play my freshman year."

Roberts had hoped to schedule an official visit with Louisville for the first weekend of the college football season, but the Cardinals play on a Thursday night in week one.

"I talked to him today, actually, and asked if I could take an official visit for [Sept. 3]," Roberts said. "He said they were not bringing people down for officials until October, so I am just going to go down and visit that weekend."

Other schools that have offered besides Louisville are Bowling Green, Cincinnati, UConn, Kansas, Kent State, NC State, Ohio and Toledo. Cincinnati is the school that is closest to Louisville on Roberts' interest list and he plans to schedule a visit with the Bearcats this fall as well. Ohio and Bowling Green are also likely official visit destinations.

"I think I am definitely going to get out to more schools and take official visits," Roberts said. "I don't want to be closed minded on one school … I want to keep my options open to everybody."

This summer, Roberts attended camps at Cincinnati, Toledo and Ohio State. He had previously held an offer from the Bearcats and Rockets before camping at those schools, but was looking to earn an offer from the Buckeyes with his camp appearance.

"One coach kind of followed me around from Ohio State," Roberts said. "I think they liked me and I was working hard at their camp."

The three-star receiver has had trouble connecting with Cincinnati coaches over the phone this summer, but did have a positive experience at their camp in June.

"It was a really warm welcome," Roberts said. "There were coaches at the front door, shaking my hand and introducing themselves. I was with Coach [Jahmile] Addae and he showed me around."

The 6-6, 240-pound Roberts could project to the wide receiver or tight end positions in college. He caught around 40 passes for 450 yards in his junior season.