Jefferson City's Devin Roberson always knew he wanted to attend the University of Missouri. He just didn't know exactly what he wanted to do in order to get there.
Five or six years ago he might have said football would turn him into a Tiger. But his ability in track and field became his calling card and Roberson made it official by signing his national letter of intent to join the Missouri track and field program.
"I've been more of a football player," Roberson said Tuesday following his signing ceremony. "I grew up thinking I was going to play football in college. I wasn't really serious about throwing until probably middle school. I picked up a disc in like seventh grade and I wasn't really serious about it. I was a sprinter. I was like, 'Hey, I'm just throwing disc because I'm good at it.' I think high school is when it really took off."
Competing in discus has worked out for Roberson, who won the Class 5 state championship in the event in May and added a third-place finish in shot put.
But football also became an option when he received an offer from Missouri State to play defensive end.
"If you would have asked me in June if I was playing defensive end at all this season, I'd say you're crazy," said Roberson, who played defense for the first time this season and was a two-year starter at quarterback. "And then if you would have told me I'd have an offer from colleges to play defensive end, I'd say no way."
In the end, Tigers track and field beat out Bears football.
"Some nights I stayed up longer than normal thinking about whether I'm going to do football or track, but I think I made the right decision," Roberson said.
His goal for his final season with the Jays are clear: repeat as a state champion in the discus while breaking the school record and break the Class 5 record in the shot put.
The college goals will have to wait.
"I'm not really sure what I want to achieve yet because the weights change from high school to college," Roberson said, "so I'm not really sure what I'm able to throw. So I guess if I just have it in my hand and start throwing I'll make goals from there."