BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Indiana’s one-time quarterback of the future is leaving town.
Tre Roberson, the first true freshman to ever start a game for the Hoosiers, announced Wednesday he will transfer to another school. Neither Roberson nor Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson provided a reason for the decision, the unusual timing or said where Roberson may be headed next.
The 6-foot, 203-pound redshirt junior still has two years of eligibility remaining.
“I want to thank the coaching staff, my teammates and Indiana University for all of their support over the last three years,” Roberson said. “My time in Bloomington will always hold a special place in my heart. I wish everyone at IU all the best as I move on to the next chapter in my life.”
It appeared the Hoosiers would rebuild their program around Roberson when Wilson arrived in 2011.
The gifted athlete arrived on campus as the state’s latest Mr. Football Award winner and immediately emerged as a potential starter. Initially, Wilson split the quarterback duties between veterans Edward Wright-Baker and Dusty Kiel. By mid-October, with the Hoosiers 1-6 and virtually eliminated from bowl contention, Wilson handed the reins to Roberson.
Through Wilson went 0-5 over those last five games, he completed 81 of 142 passes for 937 yards with three touchdowns and six interceptions and was second on the team in rushing with 109 carries for 426 yards and two more scores. Kiel and Wright-Baker decided to transfer after the 2011 season, but things went bad for Roberson.
He broke his lower left leg in the second game of his sophomore season, giving backups Cam Coffman and Nate Sudfeld a chance to split time for the rest of the season. When a healthy Roberson returned last fall, he was competing again for the starting job — primarily with Sudfeld, a sophomore.
Roberson did start four times, but Sudfeld produced better numbers and was considered the favorite to win the job this fall. Now it’s Sudfeld’s job to lose, as the Hoosiers try to find a capable backup.
Coffman announced in January that he, too, would transfer — making Roberson the second quarterback with starting experience to leave the program in less than six months.
“We appreciate and thank Tre for his contributions to our football program both on and off the field,” Wilson said. “He is an outstanding player and a great young man. We wish him well as he moves forward with his career.”
Roberson, an Indianapolis native, finished his career in Bloomington with 197 completions in 330 attempts for 2,433 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also ran 206 times for 982 yards and 10 TDs.
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