SCOOBA — It was a typical summer for Wyatt Roberts replete with another quarterback competition at East Mississippi Community College. Another big-name transfer from a Division I power arrives on campus and is penciled in as the starter by fans and media.
Roberts, a sophomore quarterback from Louisville High School, is probably shorter than what he is listed as (6-foot) on the EMCC football team’s roster. When John Franklin III, a transfer from Florida State and an All-Atlantic Coastal Conference track performer, arrived in Scooba, Roberts elevated his play. He did so with the intent to play a key role in EMCC’s march to history this season. Roberts started that journey on a strong note Thursday, running for a touchdown and throwing for another in No. 1 EMCC’s 69-20 victory against Southwest Mississippi C.C. at Sullivan-Windham Field.
“When John (Franklin) came in we told (Wyatt), ‘This doesn’t change anything for you. You’ve just gotta keep doing what you’re doing,’ and he actually elevated his game,” EMCC quarterbacks coach Clint Trickett said. “We kind of knew he would do that. He’s been playing lights out ever since John came in, and that’s what competition will make you do. You either get better or you crumble and he got better.”
Roberts was 20 of 33 for 184 yards and no interceptions. Known as a stand-and-throw guy, Roberts surprised coaches and teammates by rushing for 23 yards on three carries.
“He had a rushing touchdown tonight, but he is a pocket passer,” Trickett said. “He did a great job of extending plays when things would break down. In practice, you call those dead or call those sacks. You don’t really see those plays extended because you’re trying to protect him. But when it’s a live game, he did a great job of extending the play.”
Roberts led the Lions on their first two series. He and Franklin then alternated under center until the fourth quarter, when Joseph Willis took over. Trickett said the quarterback competition offers the Lions multiple options.
“We don’t have a starter still,” Trickett said. “We have a guy who comes out first and a guy who comes out second. 1A and 1B type thing. I think they both played phenomenal tonight.”
Although Roberts might not have the distinction of being the starter, he was excited to take the first snaps.
“It felt great,” Roberts said. “First college start, number one team in the country. We came out an started really good. … I had a few butterflies going early on, but after you take that first lick it’s just a football game then.”
Roberts said he has benefited from EMCC bringing in a skilled quarterback like Franklin. Last season, Chad Kelly joined the team from Clemson. Kelly is competing for the starting job for Ole Miss. With another high profile transfer arriving on campus, it would have been understandable if Roberts had been upset.
“He never griped, complained, whined; he never did anything,” EMCC coach Buddy Stephens said. “That’s what makes Wyatt the leader he is.”
Roberts said competition in preseason camp was intense. He said he and Franklin both wanted to earn the job as starter, but he understands both players need to do what is best for the team to success if it wants to become the first program to win three National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) titles in a row.
“We were both getting after it as much as we could,” Roberts said. “But, at the same time, we help each other out. We’re teammates and we’re friends, and we’re gonna help each other out whenever the other guy is in. John’s a great weapon to have on the team, and I’m really glad he’s here.
“You gotta compete. When I was being recruited by East Mississippi, I said, ‘I want to compete with the best,’ and that’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to compete with the best players in the country throughout. It makes you a better player. I kind of knew it coming in, and that’s kind of what happened when we had Chad (Kelly) last year.”
Stephens said his quarterbacks have been riding to practice together the past couple weeks and have developed a bond.
“We’ve got two guys who are really phenomenal,” Stephens said. “Throw Joseph Willis in there. I wish we had gotten him more snaps tonight. I think our quarterback depth is as good as any team in the state at any level.”
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