Lb Robertson Earns Starting Position Drc Article

[OldTimer]

Football: Robertson earns starting position

11:22 PM CDT on Thursday, October 18, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas linebacker Craig Robertson knew his time to start would come at some point in his tenure with the Mean Green. He just didn't expect it to be now or under the circumstances that have unfolded the last few weeks.

The redshirt freshman spent his first season and a half at UNT paying close attention to everything the Mean Green's veteran cast of linebackers told him while adapting to the college game.

Robertson replaced one of those veterans in the starting lineup last week in the Mean Green's win over Louisiana-Monroe that broke a five-game losing streak to open the season. Senior Brandon Monroe moved into a backup role to make room for Robertson.

The move paid off for UNT and Robertson, who will be in the starting lineup again Saturday when the Mean Green takes on defending Sun Belt Conference champion Troy on the road.

"Craig handled the situation well," UNT senior linebacker Maurice Holman said. "He shows respect to the upperclassmen and listens to what we have to say. He is going to be a good one."

That was evident in Robertson's first game as a starter when he intercepted a pass to set up a field goal and finished with five tackles, including two for loss. Robertson's performance was critical in the Mean Green's best defensive performance of the season in a 31-21 win.

UNT held ULM to just seven points before the Warhawks scored two quick touchdowns in the final two minutes to make the game appear closer than it was.

"I was surprised that I got a chance to start because we have a good batch of senior linebackers," Robertson said. "I just tried to play with emotion and let that take over."

Seeing Robertson made an impact in the Mean Green's win over ULM wasn't a surprise for UNT's coaches, who have been impressed with the former Stafford standout ever since they arrived in December.

"We noticed him the first couple of days of spring practice," UNT head coach Todd Dodge said. "As an offensive play-caller, when we go against our defense, I have to account for him. He makes me think if I want to work a particular scheme in his area."

Dodge described Robertson as an ideal linebacker in a new era of college football, where most teams depend on a passing attack in a spread offense. At 6-0, 210, Robertson is fast enough to play in pass coverage but is also physical enough to play the run at the line of scrimmage.

UNT took advantage of those assets by putting Robertson in position to make plays in the open field against ULM, which depends on a running attack powered by Calvin Dawson, one of the fastest running backs in the Sun Belt.

Robertson helped UNT limit Dawson to 65 yards, breaking the ULM standout's streak of 10 consecutive 100-yard rushing games.

Robertson's unusual combination of speed and size was what convinced UNT's former coaching staff to recruit the former multi-sport standout.

Robertson played quarterback, linebacker, receiver, kicker, punter and safety at different times during his high school football career and was also an all-district selection in basketball and baseball.

Robertson attributed some of the instincts he has displayed as a linebacker to the time he spent playing offense in high school. What has sped up his development even more is concentrating on the defensive side of the ball and learning the college game from players like Holman, Monroe and fellow senior Derek Mendoza, not to mention Phillip Graves and Shawn Early, a pair of former UNT linebackers who served as mentors last season.

"I have learned more from the veteran guys on this team than I did my whole high school career," Robertson said. "Those guys are my role models, the guys who are here now and the guys who were here my freshman year like Phillip and Shawn."

UNT will need Robertson to be at his best for what shapes up to be one of the biggest challenges of the season for the Mean Green. Troy is off to a 3-0 start in Sun Belt play and features quarterback Omar Haugabook, the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in the Sun Belt.

Haugabook is averaging 320 yards of total offense a game for the Trojans, who lead the Sun Belt with an average of 34.0 points a game.

Robertson will be a big part of UNT's plan to keep Troy in check because of the confidence Dodge has in one of his best young players.

"He is a very focused kid and was an outstanding athlete in high school," Dodge said. "It's nice to see one where the original evaluation was wow and for that evaluation to pan out. He is really playing well right now."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.