Interview: 2020 De La Salle DL Ben Roe Talks EWU Eagles Commitment
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
At the end of a happy verbal commitment for any high school football player is a lot of blood, sweat, and tears put into a short time-span of one’s abilities planning for a hopeful unknown. For Class of 2020 defensive/offensive lineman Ben Roe, the countless hours of work and development started showing signs of payback over the summer when offers and serious interest started rolling in after a La Verne padded camp. Coaches went to the game film on the De La Salle (9-1) talent seeing the 6-0, 280-pound, defender was a warrior in the trenches with the strength and technique to play tackle and/or nose guard at the next level. Offers from Army, Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona, and San Jose State were dropped, but on Nov. 8, the Concord area native verbally committed to the EWU Eagles.
In an RNG exclusive interview, I caught up with Roe after his big announcement getting the inside scoop on how the Eagles became his ideal fit with a quick update on his Spartans’ squad push into the 2019 California playoffs.
Interview
Ben, before we get into your big recruiting news, I’d like to get an update on your season. The Spartans are once again one of the team teams in the nation ranked No. 20 overall. How is the team looking heading into the playoffs?
“We are looking good. The one thing I like about this team, there is more togetherness. It feels like a team, not a bunch of individuals playing for themselves. We are playing well together and working well together.”
How has your season gone in the trenches?
“I think I have had a pretty good season overall. Not exactly what I wanted with some nagging injuries (shoulder and ankle), but I did well for the situation. My offense has improved and so has my defense. It has been a great year, but there is still a lot to do and improve upon.”
Of course. Where are you showing the biggest improvements in your skill and technique?
“It is more the experience knowing when to do certain things. On the line, there are certain things that makes things easier. You learn that after doing it for four years. It makes things so much easier, and then you wonder why you did not do that earlier. There is also a confidence that comes with all of it as a senior. You play better knowing you are the same age and everything is equal.”
The team takes on Amador Valley (8-2) on Friday. What are you expecting from their offense?
“I am expecting them to come out and play with good effort. We have not played them since my sophomore year. On film, they look like a good team. I know we will come out and do what we need to do. I have no doubt we can take care of the game on Friday.”
Now to the good stuff. On Nov. 8, you verbally committed to Eastern Washington. Walk me through the recruiting process between you and the Eagles?
“It started out over the summer at the La Verne padded football camp. I had a good camp; that is where most of my offers started – West Point and NAU (Northern Arizona). I continued to talk to EWU after the camp. They saw my film and test scores. They went to the Cal camp as well. Coach (Brian) Strandley (DL) was there. After seeing me at that camp, Coach Strandley went back to talk to Coach (Aaron) Best (HC), and they decided to offer me.
“I visited in September. I enjoyed it there. It felt like Tahoe here in California; there are good memories there for me. The people at EWU are really nice and welcoming. I like how they play and I like their staff. There are some Spartans there, including (running back) Antoine Custer, he is a legend at La Salle. The players were the nicest people in the world. I talked to my dad about it, and we decided it was time to jump on it.”
You kind of touched on this already, but what impressed you about the team, staff, and program?
“It was great actually. The team, anyone of them is a leader. There are no individual players and all of them had good vibe and leader mentality. They had confidence and played well together. If you met them, they are the nicest guys off the field but played like hell on the field. Antoine Custer, he is the hardest worker and a great guy in-person. It was great meeting him. Meeting the entire staff was cool.
“During the visit, they introduced me to their families first before meeting the team. That was cool. I was taken aback when they did that at first. But looking back, it was cool. In the locker room, each coach came up to me, introduced themselves and shook my hand, and said they were excited to have me there. It was cool.”
How will you be used within the defensive scheme?
“At nose guard maybe some at defensive tackle, but I am thinking mostly at nose guard. When I saw their defense play, I believe that is where I will be.”
When and how did you commit to the staff?
“It was over the phone. I could not do it in-person. It was around 7:30, after practice. I was talking to my dad, and he said you can commit now and get that weight off your shoulders. I decided then to commit. I called them up, told them I wanted to commit. They were excited and so was I. I called the other schools to let them know.”
When you were in that moment realizing a dream was coming true, what was that like for you?
“It was like everything had finally come together. All of this started before my freshman year. I did not have enough money to pay for college, my dad was pushing for a scholarship. I worked my butt off every day. It was the one thing I thought about every day since I was a freshman. From the La Verne camp to this, this brought everything together. It was like the end of the race. That is the only way I can put it.”
Ben, great getting time in with you today on such a big moment in your life. Congratulations on your commitment and good luck in the playoffs.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: twitter.com; No. 60 Ben Roe