Jashon Robertson and his family had settled into a nice, comfortable easy recruitment.
But then one big change Coach James Franklin leaving Vanderbilt for Penn State rocked Robertsons recruitment.
The 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive tackle from Nashvilles Montgomery Bell Academy believes most things happen for a reason, though, and he said he wouldnt change anything about a process that ultimately made him a late addition to Tennessees highly touted 2014 class.
Robertson, in hindsight, said he couldnt believe he hadnt been committed to Tennessee the entire time, but that hell always be grateful for things shaking out the way they did.
Ive always kind of believed that things happen for a reason, and I kind of try to take everything I can from experiences, Robertson told govols247 last week. The process just showed me ... it just kind of showed how you have to pick a place over a coach. It really just revealed how special a place Tennessee is. I just think that Ill love being there regardless of what happens.
Tennessees just a special place a really special place.
Joining a list of nearly double digit Nashville-area signees in Tennessees 2014 class including five-star, Nashville-area tailback Jalen Hurd, his former teammate was icing on the cake for Robertson. He said the two still mention all the time how happy they are for things working out the way they did, despite the fact that theyll be popping each other in the face in just a few weeks.
Its kind of funny, cause me and Jalen have talked for the longest, like, Weve got to go together somewhere, kind of like some package deal, Robertson said. And now every time I see him, hes just like, Dude, were actually going to the same place. Were actually going to the same place.
Everything works out, I guess.
It never looked like things would work out for the longtime friends, because Robertson committed to Vanderbilt in June and spent nearly six full months firmly pledged to the Commodores.
Robertson said he was initially shocked by Franklins departure, but that he didnt need much time to screw his head back on straight. He was more concerned for his family, which had been thoroughly enjoying a mostly stress-free recruitment especially for a defensive tackle prospect.
Ultimately, though, Roberton said things ended perfectly, and that his family handled everything just fine.
Through whatever it was whether it was a real stable period or kind of hectic I just tried to enjoy it all, he said. I feel like I was able to enjoy almost all of it. For a minute, when things got kind of scrambled, it got a little rough, just cause a lot of people in my family were used to the consistency of things, and then a lot of things unfolded. But other than that, and even kind of in that period, I just tried to see all the good and all the positive things in every situation.
I really just tried to enjoy everything. You only get recruited once.
And after that recruitment, the real work begins. And Robertson knows that, so he said hes followed every detail in Tennessees winter workout plan and reshaped his body. He said hes also nearly an inch taller than the 6-2.75 he measured at during a winter visit to Tennessee. He measured in at 6.3-5 last week.
Ive grown an inch since last summer, and at least like half an inch since February, he said. People kept telling me you dont stop growing until youre 21, and I was like, All right, whatever. But I kept feeling skinnier even though the scale said I wasnt, so then I started thinking, Maybe I got taller. And I had.
My body has changed a bunch. I feel a lot leaner and lighter and a lot stronger, just by using the workout plan they have us on. Ive never really had the opportunity to just take off the winter season and just train and condition and lift and everything. This is my first opportunity to be able to isolate my training and my focus on really just building up my body and my endurance.
This is the best shape Ive ever been in coming out of the winter into the spring. My body has definitely changed a lot.
Robertson said hes spent most of his rare free time the past couple of months focusing on two things getting to know more about his future Tennessee teammates, especially future roommate Todd Kelly Jr., and making sure those around him back home know theyre appreciated.
Im just real appreciative of everything thats going on, he said. I feel like Im surrounded by a great group of people with the coaches and the players. Its truly a great feeling to have, to feel stable and feel like youre gonna have a couple of places to call home.
Before I leave, I definitely want to just spend time with the people who have helped get to this point, to where I am you know, family, friends, everything. Maybe we can kick back a little bit, talk about some memories and have some laughs and just kind of relax before everything gets serious.
That window is closing, though. Robertson plans to move to Knoxville on Tuesday morning and get set up in his new dorm and enroll in his first summer class. From there, the full focus will be on football aside from a quick trip back to Nashville on Thursday for his school graduation ceremony and then a small celebration with friends and family. That leave wont last long, though, because Robertson said theres work to do in Knoxville and a bit more in the coming days, if possible, because hed like to drop just a few more pounds and come in even closer to the 295-or-so pounds Tennessee suggested.
Robertson said hes a team-first guy who will play on either side of the ball and accept a redshirt if the coaches choose to go that route, but he said the ideal scenario is staying at defensive tackle and helping the team on the field as a true freshman.
Im still coming out full force on defense at first, but I dont care what they want me to do. I mean, Ill be the freakin holder for the team if I can just get on the field. Wherever the opportunity is, Im willing to put in the work to do anything I can to play.
And, I mean, I understand the developmental purposes of redshirting, and if the coaches think thats whats best for me, then of course Im willing to do it. But I just feel like have the mindset going in that Im gonna do everything I can to give myself the best opportunity and the best shot to play. Ive just always been like that my whole life, to compete and go after things. Thats always been one of my goals.
Robertson laughed when asked about what number he plans to wear at Tennessee, saying he gave up after learning his first two choices were taken.
He said his number, just like his position and immediate playing time, isnt the priority.
Tennessee is the priority.
I was gonna go after 51 or 31, because those were my previous high school numbers, but they were taken, he said. So now I dont know. I dont really care. Im just glad to have a Tennessee uniform. I dont care what number it is. I just want to get there and put it on.
