Ben Roberts
Texas Tech#115 overallDraft Movement
Down 34 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Ben Roberts is the kind of linebacker recruiting rankings miss and production never does. He arrived in Lubbock as a converted safety out of Eaton High School, a three-star that programs passed on because they thought he was too slow for the secondary. Texas Tech saw a 6-3 frame built for the second level. After redshirting in 2022, he broke out with 107 tackles, 6.5 for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception across 12 starts in 2023, the most tackles by a Texas Tech freshman since 1980, which earned him Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. He followed with 83 tackles, 4.5 for loss, three forced fumbles and 18 pressures as a sophomore. As a junior captain in 2025 he posted 74 tackles, six pass breakups, three interceptions and two forced fumbles while helping Texas Tech win its first Big 12 title, and his two-interception game against BYU in the championship made him the first player to pick off two passes in a Big 12 title game and earned Most Outstanding Player honors. The limitations are athletic rather than mental. He generated no sacks, missed nine tackles, and average burst caps his range chasing plays outside the box. He wins with reads, anticipation and timing rather than speed, which makes him a high-floor three-down starter and defensive signal-caller more than a ceiling bet.
Strengths
- Stout downhill run defender who anchors at the second level
- genuine coverage ballhawk with three interceptions and six pass breakups in 2025
- Big 12 Championship Game Most Outstanding Player with two interceptions off BYU, the first player to do that in the game's history
- 107 tackles as a freshman, most by a Texas Tech first-year player since 1980
- five forced fumbles across his sophomore and junior seasons
- reads routes from depth and drives on the throw with real timing
- nine tackles, six stops and an interception against Oregon
- named a team captain as a junior and trusted as the defensive signal-caller
Weaknesses
- Pass-rush value is minimal, with no sacks in 2025 despite the blitz opportunities
- missed nine tackles, a finishing detail that has to tighten
- average burst limits his range chasing plays outside the box
- wins with instincts and anticipation more than rare athleticism, so the projection leans on processing
- converted safety whose testing numbers are still unknown
- tackle production dipped each season as the role changed
- ceiling is capped by ordinary closing speed at the next level
NFL Comparison
Jack Campbell instincts-first three-down linebacker; Drew Sanders converted-athlete frame at 6-3; Nick Bolton signal-caller floor without the elite burst
College Stats
2022: redshirt; 2023 (Fr): 12 starts, 107 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2 FF, 1 INT; 2024 (So): 13 starts, 83 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3 FF, 18 pressures; 2025 (Jr, captain): 74 tackles, 6 PBU, 3 INT, 2 FF, Big 12 title
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $442K on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Texas Tech's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
Every P4 player priced, math public: College players & NIL · Roster spend
Measurables
Awards & Honors
2023 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and second-team Freshman All-American; 2025 Big 12 Championship Game Most Outstanding Player; 2025 third-team All-Big 12; 2025 team captain on Texas Tech's first Big 12 title team