RED OAK — As four-star Red Oak safety Warren Roberson sat and waited to announce his college choice Tuesday morning, he wore a TCU jacket, representing the school he had been committed to since October.
When it came time for him to make his big reveal, he bent down and started to pick up the TCU hat that was one of three in front of him, along with Texas and USC. But then, surrounded by a horde of teammates, Roberson was tossed another hat, and that’s the one he put on.
It was for Texas, and he immediately unbuttoned his jacket to reveal a UT shirt underneath. The nation’s 22nd-ranked safety in the Class of 2023 then signed to join a UT recruiting class that is ranked No. 3 in the nation by 247Sports, flipping from a TCU team that was the national runner-up after a 13-2 season.
“I just loved the school, loved the atmosphere, I feel like it’s close enough to home, but not too far,” Roberson said of Texas, a school coming off an 8-5 season. “After praying and fasting several days, I feel like God has chosen me to go to UT.”
Red Oak four-star defensive back Warren Roberson announces that he is signing with Texas.@SportsDayHS @redoakisd @247sports @Rivals @dctf @ihss_dfw @TCUFootball @TexasFootball @uscfb pic.twitter.com/aL8PPRnigm
— Greg Riddle (@DMNGregRiddle) February 7, 2023
Roberson (6-0, 180), who lists 29 college offers, was one of the few Dallas-area stars who didn’t sign during December’s early signing period. He was scheduled to unveil his college choice last Wednesday, the first day of the regular signing period for football, but the winter storm that hit D-FW delayed Red Oak’s signing day ceremony until Tuesday.
“I just had something in me that told me not to sign that early,” Roberson said. “I just kept praying and kept with God, and that led me to the right direction.”
Roberson said the score of the national championship game — a 65-7 Georgia victory over TCU that was the biggest blowout ever in a BCS or CFP title game — played no part in his decision. Instead, he is excited to join a Texas 2023 recruiting class that signed 18 players who are five-star or four-star recruits.
Roberson has been told that he will probably play safety or nickelback at UT, and he joins a secondary that has added a pair of four-star Under Armour All-Americans — Malik Muhammad from Class 5A Division II state champion South Oak Cliff and Derek Williams from Westgate High School in Louisiana.
“I’m excited. We’re fitting to be very elite and legendary,” Roberson said.
Red Oak finished 9-3 and in a three-way tie for second in District 4-5A Division I. Roberson, rated the 47th-best player in Texas, led a defense that allowed 27.4 points per game. He has run track in the past and has posted times of 11.0 in the 100 meters and 23.40 in the 200.
When asked what he brings to UT, Roberson said, “I’m going to add a hungry dog that is starving and is ready to eat.”
Texas adds four-star defensive back Warren Roberson, who is rated the 22nd-best safety in the nation.#txhsfb @SportsDayHS @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/3keY2I5tje
— Greg Riddle (@DMNGregRiddle) February 7, 2023
On Twitter: @DMNGregRiddle
Find more high school sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
