SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Demetris Robertson, the 5-star athlete out of Savannah, Ga., has been one of the most impressive athletes at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl practices this week. The nation’s No. 2 athlete has a big decision coming up at the end of a life-altering month.
His decision to go with current leader Stanford, UGA or Alabama could depend on his SAT exam.
He’s no borderline qualifier, but the exact opposite. Robertson hopes to get accepted into Stanford. He told DawgNation.com he needs to take the test one more time, boost his score by another approximate 100 points and then he’ll qualfity to enroll at the university. He’s even going to pay the rush fee to get his scores back in five days to make that happen.
Stanford still leads even though he’s never visited the school. Prospects must be accepted into Stanford before the offer of an official visit can be accepted. The school has been Robertson’s leader ever since he de-committed from Alabama in June.
“It is really hard,” Robertson said. “But I want to achieve that goal of getting accepted into Stanford. I’m not saying I am going to Stanford for sure if I make the score or anything like that, but I want to be able to say I was a good enough student to get accepted into a great university like Stanford.”
It was about this point of the interview that UGA defensive line commitment Julian Rochester continued his Army Bowl practice habit this week. He found a UGA target and yelled out “Go Dawgs” in the midst of an interview.
This time, he even added a question of his own.
“Are you coming to Georgia?” Rochester said.
“I have a surprise for the Georgia fans,” Robertson responded.
Rochester moved on and Robertson continued the discussion about Stanford.
He said if the opportunity with Stanford does not materialize with that 100-point increase on his test score, then his decision comes down to Georgia, Alabama and Georgia Tech. He said his mother really likes the thought of him going to Georgia Tech.
He wasn’t exactly sure on the dates but is planning official visits to UGA on Jan. 15 and Alabama on Jan. 19. He’s already taken official visits to Cal and Notre Dame and recently dismissed Ohio State from the schools he was considering.
Robertson said when Kirby Smart was hired, it helped UGA’s chances of signing him. He had grown close to Smart when he was recruiting him to Alabama.
“I wouldn’t say it moved Georgia up in my mind a whole lot as much as it made me really open my eyes,” Robertson said. “That was someone I really know that I can trust his word and be like a loyal person to me. I really trust him when he says something to me.”
He will work hard to play as a freshman, but the opportunity is there to earn quick playing time at UGA. He thinks he has the ability to contribute at multiple positions. That could be at cornerback or receiver. He’s willing to play wherever he’s needed the most.
“I would love to do everything if I could learn the playbook and everything that goes along with that,” Robertson said. “I would just take it one step at a time.”
There’s one other major consideration with Roberston. That’s his twin sister. There a chance she could enroll at UGA and join the track team. She’s set to make that decision later this year and the opportunity to attend the same school would be another draw.
He hearing he needs to come “join a special class” from the current UGA commits on the East team at the Army Bowl practices this week. Robertson said UGA 5-star commitment Jacob Eason somehow managed to exceed his expectations this week.
“I honestly didn’t think even he could throw as well as he has so far,” Robertson said. “But he’s really good. He’s really tall, too.”
Jeff Sentell covers UGA football and UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.
