AUBURN, Ala. – When Demetris Robertson considered coming to Auburn for his final season of college football, he found alignment.
"Coach Harsin and how he runs things here aligns with my values and how I try to live my life," said Robertson, who leads the Tigers in with 23 receptions, 312 receiving yards and three touchdown catches through seven games.
The graduate transfer from Georgia, where he earned a degree in economics, came to Auburn for the start of preseason camp in August, and has quickly made an impact on the Tigers' offensive production. Against Alabama State, he had two touchdown catches and a touchdown run.
So did Robertson make the right choice in selecting a school for his postgraduate career? "Yes, I did," he said. "I feel like God led me here for a reason, and He doesn't make mistakes. The people at Auburn are great people, selfless people, and it's a calm environment, soothing for your mind and peaceful. It's a small town, so everybody knows everybody – we are all a close-knit family."
Family got him started in football at a young age. "How I got into football? I used to play in my mom's front yard in Atlanta with my friends," he remembered. "My mom worked a lot, so I couldn't play recreation-league football, but then I moved to Savannah with my brothers and I started playing football in a league from the age of 10 and it took off from there.
"I fell in love with football when I was a little kid – my favorite players were Reggie Bush, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens – I loved it and still love it."
Athletics have been a magic carpet transporting the Georgian to all parts of the country to ply his craft.
After graduating from Savannah Christian Preparatory School in 2016, where the sprinter and long jumper was also the Savannah Morning News male track and field athlete of the year as a junior and senior, Robertson first attended the University of California-Berkeley, where he played in 14 games over two seasons, recording 57 catches for 837 yards and seven touchdowns, earning Freshman All-America recognition.
"I always wanted to live in California, but my decision to go to school there was also about networking," Robertson recalled. "That was a big reason I went to the West Coast and to Cal-Berkeley, for the networking, the education and also for football. Now I've got a bunch of family and relationships that I will have after football's over."
Robertson transferred to the University of Georgia prior to the 2018 season for one important reason: family.
"Family brought me back," he said. "I'm a family person so I love to be with my family and do things with my family. It's good to be close to them and to be able to see them. I'm very close with my mom Mildred, and I have two older brothers (Carlos and Michael) and a twin sister, Shanetris. We have a big family and we are close."
In three seasons at Georgia, Robertson added 42 receptions for 443 yards and three touchdowns in 27 games, but after graduating, he wanted to finish his collegiate career with a fresh start on the Plains.
"I'm embracing my opportunities here and I'm going to give them everything I've got while I'm here," he said. "Every day, I'll work to keep getting better, every day trying to be the best receiver I can be for myself and for my team. We're just taking it one game at a time, not overlooking any opponent, taking it week by week, day by day, 1-0.
"I feel like how the program is run here aligned with my values: family, living in a disciplined way, living righteous, serving others. I feel like being selfless and serving my teammates is what makes me feel successful. I want everyone around me to have a great life and be on the same mission as I am."
Robertson is working on a second undergraduate degree until he enters a graduate program in economics or sustainable design. After football, those same values and interests may take him in many directions.
"I feel like I'm very diverse – I have a lot of interests," Robertson said. "Entrepreneurship, real estate, student housing, senior housing – those things interest me. I love fashion – I'd like to be a model – and I want to go into jewelry, too. I want to own my own business or several, and I have a daughter, Stella Mae, so I want to start a brand for her in the design or creative field. I have a lot of ideas. Playing football to get my education will help make them possible.
"In my heart, God really brought me here to Auburn. I'm so thankful to feel that I'm part of the Auburn Family. I appreciate their love and them welcoming me with open arms. We're just going to do our best to keep balling and keep winning. War Eagle!"
Hat trick: Demetris Robertson scored three touchdowns against Alabama State
