Saraland quarterback Jamison Roberts fires a pass during a 38-21 playoff win over Benjamin Russell last year. (Todd Stacey/Call News)
By JIMMY WIGFIELD
Saraland quarterback Jamison Roberts announced his list of eight finalists on Monday, including Auburn, Ole Miss and Oklahoma.
The other finalists are Arkansas, Kentucky, Duke, Northwestern and Iowa.
“He’s playing the game at a level where it’s easy for all these decision makers to watch his tape and say, ‘Wow, this kid is going to be special,’” Spartans coach Jeff Kelly said. “Just about every program in the country has been through here. He’s taking a systematic approach to learn the things that he wants to learn. … He’s been very wise in how he approached it. He hadn’t really got caught up in the process itself but he’s learning the feel and the culture of the different programs.”
Roberts’ decision could come in the spring or summer before Saraland’s season begins on Aug. 21 against Mary G. Montgomery.
Roberts (6-3, 200) — a three-star prospect ranked as the No. 27 quarterback nationally by Rivals — had a breakout season in 2025, when he completed 219 of 300 passes for 3,370 yards, 37 touchdowns and five interceptions. He ran for 641 yards on 104 carries and 21 TDs.
Kelly expects Roberts to perform at an even higher level this season as the Spartans try to reach the Super 7 for the fifth straight year.
“Jameson is tough on himself — he wants to be better,” Kelly said. “He doesn’t think that he’s got it figured out. The maturity of being a year older and a year stronger physically is going to allow him to be better. … The longer you play that position, the game just continues to slow down. Just the confidence of being the guy and knowing you can go play the game at a level as good as anybody, that is something that can’t help but continue to help you grow as a player.”
Roberts will enter his senior season with 3,870 career passing yards, 45 touchdowns, just five interceptions and a 142.3 quarterback rating. He has also run for 664 yards and 21 TDs while averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
“The greatest gains can only be made by reps and playing when the bullets are flying because there are so many things about the quarterback position that you can’t simulate in practice,” Kelly said. “He’s got a full year under his belt and I think you are going to see a natural progression because he’s been in the fire every game. I look for him to continue to grow and prepare. He’s focused this spring on preparing his body. He’s over 200 pounds now. He’s in the weight room, doing all the things we do plus he’s a gym rat.”
Roberts is arranging his spring visits and plans to graduate early. He has a 4.3 GPA and wants to major in sports medicine.
