Eastern Michigan adds former Virginia Tech wide receiver to staff

Less than a month after joining the staff at his alma mater, former Hokie wideout Dyrell Roberts is leaving. Roberts is taking the wide receivers assistant coach position under longtime Eastern Michigan head coach Chris Creighton, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz, first reported by FootballScoop.

Roberts, who played wide receiver at Virginia Tech during his college career, returned home to Blacksburg for a month as an offensive analyst. He had turned down other opportunities to join the Hokies but Eastern Michigan won him over in the long run.

The former Hokie played under legendary Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer from 2008-12. He caught 96 passes for 1,363 yards and six touchdowns during his time as a Hokie player, while also graduating as Tech’s all-time leader in career kick return yardage (1,577) and kick return average (25.9).

Roberts jumped right into the coaching field following his playing days. He joined the staff at his former high school in 2013 as the assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator. Following his time at the high school level, he moved up to the college ranks. Norfolk State hired him to work with multiple position groups.

Prior to briefly joining the staff at Virginia Tech, Roberts served as the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator at Western Illinois.

Eastern Michigan went 7-6 in the 2021 season, including a loss to Liberty to end the year in the Lending Tree Bowl.