At this year’s East-West Shrine game — one of the most prestigious postseason football games for college seniors, University of Toledo teammates Storm Norton and Michael Roberts roomed together and got a chance to showcase their abilities in front of a national audience.
“It was definitely fun,” Norton said. “We were roommates down there and we just kind of got to sit back and reflect on how far we’ve really come. It was definitely really fun and I’m proud of where [Roberts] was too and how well he played.”
And, if the setting for the pair of Rockets seemed far-fetched just a few years back, that’s because it was.
Norton and Roberts have come a long way in their football journeys. Norton, a Whitmer graduate, came to Toledo overweight at 330 pounds. Starting with a redshirt season, Norton completely transformed his body during his time as a Rocket and became a two-time first-team All-MAC offensive tackle.
Roberts, a tight end, did not get an opportunity to play much in his first few years at UT. He had just four receptions as a sophomore and 21 as a junior. That changed this past season when Roberts seized a starting role and caught 45 passes for 533 yards and a school-record 16 touchdowns on his way to being named a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.
The East-West Shrine Game, played on Saturday, was another step on the way to what Norton and Roberts hope will be a selection in the 2017 NFL draft. Norton and Roberts impressed scouts and draft analysts with a solid week of practice and good performances in the game.
Roberts caught two passes for 25 yards, including an impressive third-and-long catch out of the backfield that saw the tight end bowl over several defenders on the way to a first down.
“I got a little taste of what it’s like to learn a playbook at the next level,” Roberts said. “Practices were very competitive. We made each other better and we went hard. It was an intense couple of days and it felt like camp almost.”
Roberts’ week of practice caught the eye of NFL draft expert Mike Mayock.
“He’s 6-5, almost 270, and he runs better than that,” Mayock said. “He’s got surprising speed and hands. I liked him on tape and I liked him out here today.”
Norton said his West team rotated nine lineman fairly evenly throughout the game.
“Going in, I knew there was going to be a lot of good players there and there definitely were,” Norton said. “I’m definitely really happy where I stand as a player after coming out and going up against all of them.”
Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com thought Norton’s run-blocking in practice stood out.
“When he run blocks, Norton moves efficiently to the second level,” Pauline wrote. “If he was able to engage the defender, he typically came out victorious.”
During the game, Roberts and Norton found themselves lined up next to each other on the line at times.
“It was nice to play next to Storm,” Roberts said. “We kind of used our own lingo when we were together.”
Roberts’ standout week in St. Petersburg earned him a spot in this weekend’s Senior Bowl alongside Toledo running back Kareem Hunt.
UT defensive tackle Treyvon Hester also was invited to the East-West Shrine Game, but did not participate because of a shoulder injury.
The West beat the East 10-3.
After the Senior Bowl, Roberts said he will train at EXOS, a training facility in San Diego.
“I’m excited,” Roberts said. “I’m embracing the process. I’m enjoying it, because it’s really a grind and, if you don’t enjoy it, mentally it will mess you up.”
Norton will train at Ignition APG in Cincinnati leading up to the draft.
“I definitely know it’s a possibility,” Norton said of getting drafted.
“With all the success I’ve had the past few years, that’s not going to get me to where I want to go. I know there is a lot of work to be done. I just have to stay focused and stay the course.”
Contact Brian Buckey at: bbuckey@theblade.com or 419-724-6110.
First Published January 26, 2017, 5:30 a.m.
