5-star recruit Demetris Robertson picks Cal over Georgia
Nearly three months after national signing day, Demetris Robertson finally announced his college decision Sunday. His landing spot was a bit of a surprise, too.
Robertson, a five-star athlete from Savannah, Georgia, chose Cal over Notre Dame and in-state Georgia, among others. Robertson, the No. 7 overall prospect in the 2016 class according to Rivals.com, also considered Alabama (where he once verbally committed), Georgia Tech and Stanford among his 52 total FBS offers.
Demetris Robertson Announces Commitment To Cal https://t.co/Rp07I2qrNB @d_rob4 #GoBears #CalFamily pic.twitter.com/r2KJIMnBKc
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) May 1, 2016
“I am excited to take my talents to the University of California, Berkeley,” Robertson said at a press conference at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. “The first reason is that the education was a big part of my decision. I wanted to keep that foundation.
“When I went there, it felt like home. Me and the coaching staff have a great relationship. That’s where I felt were the best of all things for me.”
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Robertson announced the decision by unveiling a (upside-down) painting of the Cal logo.
Demetris Robertson, #1 athlete in the country, picks Cal. Welcome @d_rob4! pic.twitter.com/gERNOuwXkP https://t.co/tcEcpo4sh3
— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) May 1, 2016
Robertson previously signed a non-binding financial aid agreement with Cal, along with Georgia and Georgia Tech. Ultimately, however, he opted to head to the west coast.
“Demetris is an outstanding young man who wants to be challenged academically and believes that Cal is a great fit for him. We’re really excited about getting Demetris into the University of California and our football program,” Cal head coach Sonny Dykes said. “He’s a great fit for us with very high academics. He wants to achieve at a high level in the classroom. The great academics at Cal and the improvement of our program along with our West Coast location attracted him.
“He wanted to achieve some very specific things outside of football and he felt like he could do that at Cal better than anywhere else. We’re looking forward to his contributions on and off the field. He’s going to be a great ambassador for our program.”
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During his time at Savannah Christian High School, Robertson, the No. 1 player in the state of Georgia, played running back, wide receiver and cornerback. He also was a standout on special teams as a returner. As a senior, Robertson had 1,463 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns – nine rushing, one receiving, two punt returns, and one kickoff return. He also totaled 41 tackles and two interceptions on defense.
Robertson becomes the 28th member of the Bears’ 2016 recruiting class.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!