New offers change Roberts game plan

Rivals250 wide receiver Austin Roberts of Carmel, Ind., was winding down his recruitment with an eye on a late spring decision coming into this month, but new offers have caused the four-star to reevaluate.

"I do have an idea of the school I want to go to, but with Tennessee and Florida State jumping in I kind of want to see those schools before it is all said and done," Roberts said. "I talked to my family and both my parents felt I was jumping the gun a little bit, so we're going to slow it down."

Trips to Florida State and Tennessee have not yet been scheduled, but Roberts is targeting early summer for seeing both schools. Florida State is the most recent of those two schools to offer, and the Seminoles have his attention.

"There is a lot of interest going toward Florida State right now," Roberts said. "I spoke with Coach [Tim] Brewster and he pretty much told me he was looking for an athlete to play at tight end and I fit exactly at where he wanted me to play. I could see myself playing that kind of tight end/wide receiver position. He also told me I would have a chance to get on the field pretty early."

The offer from Tennessee came during Roberts' spring break. While Roberts was already familiar with the Volunteers' program, the coaching staff picked up an additional endorsement while his father - Indianapolis Colts' tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts - was preparing for last weekend's NFL Draft.

"Tennessee is rich with football tradition," Roberts said. "Everybody in Tennessee loves the Volunteers.

"I also am hearing good things about the head coach there. My dad worked out the former tight end from Cincinnati [Travis Kelce] that Coach [Butch] Jones coached, and the tight end was raving about him. I really would like to get on campus, meet him and see all there is about Tennessee."

Florida State and Tennessee now join the likes of Florida, Miami, Stanford and Ohio State - schools that were in Roberts' top group entering the month and continue to be top contenders - as the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder eyes a summer decision.

"If I don't get the decision done [before] the season, then it is going to come after because I am just going to focus during my season," Roberts said.