4-star TE Nate Roberts commits to Ohio State: 'There wasn't a better fit for me out there'

Last June, Nate Roberts committed to Notre Dame. Almost two months later, he decommitted from the Irish. The four-star tight end out of Washington (Okl.) rushed his initial decision, so after opening his recruitment back up, he took a step back and re-evaluated his options.

Ohio State was one of those since the Buckeyes offered in May of last year. After five visits to Columbus, the No. 143 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking saw all he needed to see.

“I made my decision last weekend after visiting Ohio State,” Roberts told On3. “The plan wasn’t to commit on that visit, but I got home and talked to my parents and made that decision.

“Being back on campus, watching practice, seeing Coach Keenan Bailey coach, hearing Coach Ryan Day push the team and seeing how the team bond, I felt it was time. There wasn’t a better fit for me out there. Ohio State checked all of my boxes. Watching practice and meeting Coach Chip Kelly were my last two boxes checked, so it was time.”

Ohio State has been trending for some time. Commitment has been on Roberts’ mind for a few months, but he wasn’t 100% there. The home-state school was always right there.

“I was always telling myself to stay home and to go 20 minutes away at Oklahoma, but the opportunities at Ohio State put them on top. It is the best fit for me. Over time, I made that decision. They can develop me into a next level tight end and get me where I need to be to be drafted into to the NFL.”

Roberts is the 12th prospect to commit to Ohio State this cycle.

Coach Bailey is what Roberts was looking for

Roberts was a national recruit. He has strong relationships with coaches throughout the country, but none matches the one he has with Bailey.

“Coach Bailey is what I want in a coach,” Roberts said. “We bonded together so easily, he is easy to talk to and I like how he coaches and the energy he has.

“I want to play for that younger coach with the energy and knowledge. Coach Bailey moves with his players and shows them what he wants. He can coach tight ends, he can develop his players, Ohio State uses the tight end and I can become of of those tight ends for the draft one day.”

The decision is final; Roberts will play for Day and Ohio State

Roberts may show up in Norman from time to time, but that is because his brother plays there. He is set on being a Buckeye and playing for Day in Columbus.

“Ohio State is where I want to be, and if I want to win a national championship, that is where I need to be,” Roberts said. “Ohio State proved to me I was their guy and my recruitment is 100% locked down and Ohio state is my place.”

Day and his staff have recruited Roberts for around a year. They were consistent. It paid off. Now Roberts is excited to play for one of the best in the country.

“Coach Day and I have developed a great relationship since they started to recruit me. He is a great coach, he loves to win and he has Ohio State on track to win that National Championship.

“I love his mindset and I love the brotherhood he’s built. We have created a good relationship and I haven’t felt what I feel with Coach Day with any other coach. I love what he brings to the table.

“Coach Day has created that brotherhood culture and nobody is better than the other on his team. It is different there.”