Few 23-year-olds have experienced as much change as 2016 Savannah Christian graduate Demetris Robertson.
Since bursting onto the recruiting radars of college football coaches in the fall of 2013 as a freshman high school phenom, Robertson, then at Savannah Country Day, has gone from one coast to another in an effort to find a fit for his undeniable athletic talents.
Now a rising senior receiver for the University of Georgia, Robertson’s serious football path began as a Hornet on Savannah’s southside where he starred for SCDS in 2013 and 2014. Following his sophomore season, he transferred to Savannah Christian to play for the Raiders and head coach Donald Chumley.
While at SCPS, Robertson began filtering through the countless scholarship offers coming his way from the nation’s best programs.
Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, UCLA, Notre Dame, Stanford, California, Florida, Auburn, Clemson, Southern Cal, Florida State, Ohio State, LSU, Miami, Penn State, Tennessee, West Virginia and South Carolina were just some of the 52 total schools to have offered full-rides to the consensus 5-star recruit in the class of 2016.
Waiting long after the traditional early February signing day, Robertson chose California as his destination in June of 2016 at a ceremony in Atlanta at the College Football Hall of Fame.
It was official: the No. 1 receiver in the country (per 247 Sports, Rivals, and Scout) in the 2016 class was headed west to play in the PAC-12.
“I’m going to be homesick a lot, but I’ll get over it,” he said in 2016 of his college decision. “I just want to do what is best for me and for my family.
“I know what my future holds, and I know what I want for my life.”
Robertson had no trouble at Cal. In fact, he hauled in 50 catches and tallied 767 receiving yards as a true freshman. He was also key in the scoring department, catching seven touchdowns in 12 games (11 starts).
The numbers for a frosh “D-Rob” were historical. He broke the school’s freshman records -- previously set by DeSean Jackson for receiving yards in 2005 and Keenan Allen for receptions in 2010 -- while equaling Jackson's freshman mark in touchdown receptions.
A lower-body injury sustained during the second game of 2017 caused him to miss most of his sophomore year and that, combined with growing problems with family back home in Georgia, pushed Robertson to enter his name into the NCAA transfer portal.
Another highly publicized decision, Robertson’s transfer school of choice became UGA in July 2018 where he was declared immediately eligible. He was back.
But in his two years in Athens, Robertson has totaled 30 receptions for just 333 yards while playing sparingly behind veteran and talented receiving weapons at head coach Kirby Smart’s disposal.
No worries says the always-measured Robertson. This fall, when the Bulldogs try to better their 2019 record of 12-2 (7-1 SEC), he’ll be ready to make his final collegiate season as remarkable as first.
“I’m just trying to stay mentally sharp and working to stay in shape by eating well and conditioning right,” Robertson told the Prep Sports Report in a May message exchange.
“(UGA has) a strong coaching staff and support system, so they’ve been able to help me stay on track (during Coronavirus restrictions this off-season).”
And even though he is fully ready to return to the practice fields and begin another season on the gridiron, Robertson wanted to pass along a message to those in the medical field still fighting the outbreak and spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“I want to thank all of the front-line health care workers,” Roberston said. "I want to thank them for everything they are doing to keep us safe and to keep us all healthy amidst these extremely uncertain times.”
