Youngstown State Football standout Dave Roberts helped contribute to the great winning tradition of the program as one of the first players in school history to participate in the playoffs four consecutive seasons.
Roberts was a key ingredient of the 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992 recipes for success. He began his career as a wide receiver before moving over to the defensive side of the ball prior to his sophomore year and was never out of the starting lineup again. All four years he was used as a kick return specialist where he was a big contributor for the Penguins.
Roberts has the distinction of being one of two individuals in YSU football history to play in the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic, which up until this year was played every Christmas Day in Mobile,Ala. Roberts and Tony Rosselli (1994)are the only two players in school history to participate in the game. He finished his career with 226 total tackles, including 131 solo stops in three defensive seasons. He still ranks second in YSU history with 28 pass breakups and 22 interceptions. He ranks first at YSU in career punt-return average (15.0 yards per return) and is third in total punt return yards at 346.
In his career, YSU appeared in the playoffs four times-advancing to the quarterfinals his freshman year, winning the National Championship his junior season and advancing to the title game his senior campaign. Youngstown State had a 43-11-1 overall record in his career and posted at least nine wins each of his four years.
In 1992, he was a consensus first –team All-American by The Associated Press, Sports Network, Football Gazette, Kodak, AFCA, and Walter Camp.
A team captain that year, he tied the school record with nine interceptions and added eight pass breakups. He finished the year with a career high 84 tackles, including 51 solo tackles. He led Division I-AA averaging 0.82 interceptions per game.
Roberts returned 17 punts for 317 yards and averaged 18.7 yards per return. He scored touchdowns on punt returns against Northern Iowa (71 yards) and Clarion (68 yards) en route to setting single-season school records for punt return yards and punt return average. He also ran back 16 kickoff returns for 370 yards.
As a junior, Roberts started all 15 games as a free safety to help lead the Penguins to their first National Championship in school history. He has 72 total tackles, including 40 solo stops. He finished second on the team with five interceptions and added a team-high 13 pass breakups. Three of his interceptions came during the Penguins four-game playoff run.
He returned 20 kickoffs for 477 yards, an average of 23.9 per return and also returned six punts. In the playoffs against Villanova, he caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Ray Isaac.
In 1990, Roberts moved over to the defense and made an instant impact as the penguins finished with a perfect 11-0 record in the regular season advancing to the playoffs for the second straight year.
He recorded 70 tackles, 40 of which were solo stops and led the team with eight interceptions. He also broke up 11 passes.
In 1989, Roberts began his career as a wide receiver. He finished the year with four receptions for 57 yards. He split time with fellow YSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Archie herring returning kickoffs. Roberts returned 12 kicks for a total of 277 yards and a team-best average of 23.1.
Prior to coming to Youngstown, he was an all-state and all-conference selection while at South Allegheny High School in Liberty, Pa.
Robert currently resides in Pittsburgh Pa., where he is a Police Officer.
