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Great pickup and much needed!
Surprised there in not more comments on this. This is a pretty big pickup, JJ had several offers while in the portal ranging from SBC up to UVA/VA Tech. In addition, he pretty much played in every game for WAKE as CB an area of need for the Herd.
I think it is hard to get too excited about a local kid who chose not to start at MU, then come back for a second chance opportunity. I can see that opinion; but then again, I'm like many who have throughout life had to learn that the grass isn't always greener somewhere else. Earl Nightingale has a great story called "acres of diamonds", it's a great reminder of checking out very closely what is near us instead of being drawn away to what we think we see somewhere else.
I was pretty sure Marshall only offered him a preferred walk-on and last night on WSAZ, JJ Confirmed this. Also, not really sure this is a second chance opportunity. JJ played a lot of snaps at Wake. With Gilmore gone and possibly Abraham, I think Marshall was in need more than JJ. Make no mistake he is here because this is where he always wanted to be. https://www.wsaz.com/2022/12/22/jj-roberts-returns-home/
In his interview he said Marshall never offered him and he always wanted to play here. So there ya go Doc.
Doc had his head in the sand a lot of the time.
Oddly enough, it is also reported that he was offered a preferred walk on spot, so if that is correct, he was offered. He accepted another school with a scholarship, nothing wrong with that; his choice.
Speaking of transfers, it works both ways. Mookie Collier from Bluefield started out at MU and ended up transferring to North Carolina Central who defeated Jackson State in a recent bowl game. Nice video of stiff arm on one of his runs. https://wvmetronews.com/2022/12/20/bluefield-native-mookie-collier-shines-on-big-stage-at-the-celebration-bowl/?fbclid=IwAR0WbL8HTWIBm_l6g7OdB5nhqvsVp3nQH3ssbeidmFlKWsXs5yuk5Tn-6M8
The "Celebration Bowl" is so iconic to the HBCUs that they forego the 1-AA (FCS) championships to have a chance to play in that game. Good on Mookie - his talent was never an issue, but he is really small for D-1.
I mean I guess I can see the importance but there are only about 20 or so HBCUs in FCS football and most of them didn't make much noise in the playoffs before they went to the Celebration bowl as the SWAC and MEAC are not among the better FCS leagues. There are a few exceptions like when Steve McNair's Alcorn Team was seeded very high before losing to Youngstown one year. 50k is certainly an awesome crowd and the game seems to draw a lot of overall interest.