TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – It's been nearly six years since former Michigan wide receiver
Roy Roundtree became a household name with his
acrobatic game-winning touchdown catch in a wild shootout against Notre Dame in primetime on Sept. 10, 2011. At this morning's practice, the current Indiana State wide receivers coach proved he still has it.
In a one-on-one session at the end of practice against cornerbacks coach
Deon Broomfield (a former standout safety at Iowa State himself), Roundtree literally left Broomfield on the ground
with a ferocious cut in on the pass – igniting the Sycamore offense, who followed him into the endzone.
Roundtree is now part of a staff that has several familiar faces that coached during his playing career at Michigan, including head coach
Curt Mallory, assistant head coach and defensive line coach
Mark Smith, offensive coordinator
Jeff Hecklinski and offensive line coach
Darrell Funk.
"It's been exciting," Roundtree said. "I'm happy to be here to get to work with Coach Mallory and this staff and the guys on this team."
Roundtree's resume at Michigan is far more extensive than that one game against Notre Dame. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection, as well as a two-time Preseason Biletnikoff Award Watch List honoree. He ended his Michigan career seventh in Wolverine history with 154 receptions, ending his career with 42 games started, 2,304 yards and 15 TD.
The transition from star athlete to coach has been a smooth one for Roundtree, though, as Coach Mallory attested upon his hiring:
"At Michigan, he was the ultimate team player," Mallory said. "He held other teammates accountable, as well as himself, and was a very selfless player. He always put the team first. He'll be a great young mentor to our wide receivers."
"It's completely different," Roundtree said. "You have to switch your mindset. It's more of you being a teacher now, and I feel like I did a great job as a player being a teacher, but now you're actually teaching these student-athletes. You just want the best for them. My whole thing is to have fun."
And have fun Roundtree has. He still wears cleats out at practice, not just for the offhand chance of a one-on-one drill like today, but for educational purposes as well.
"Every day I'm out there with my cleats on, just trying to stay young," Roundtree said. "I feel like I can still compete and just teach them the knowledge of the game. They see that their coach is enjoying it, they'll enjoy it as well."
"Instead of telling them how to do it, I can actually show them," Roundtree continued. "I feel like that's an easier learning tool for them as a receiver. Most guys are more hands-on, visual learners."
Roundtree and the Sycamore coaching staff have a challenging role as teachers right out of the gate with instituting new offensive and defensive schemes. For Roundtree's receivers, he's focused on one thing: getting physical.
"The main thing with this scheme is we have to be able to run the ball," Roundtree said. "Being on the perimeter, we gotta know how to block."
"Being in the run game is major. I played in a system like this, and you need to make sure you rattle these DBs helmets and make them mad, get them off their game."
Roundtree had an illustrious career at Michigan, but none of that matters now when he's on the field with the Sycamore receivers.
"I want those guys to make a name for themselves and start their legacy."
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No scrimmage for the Sycamores this week, who will have two morning practices on Thursday and Friday.
Coach Mallory caught up with
Luke Martin following practice this morning, which you can watch below:
Day 11 (April 13): 5:30-7:15 a.m.
Day 12 (April 14): 5:30-7:15 a.m.
Day 13 (April 18): 5:15-7:15 a.m.
Day 14 (April 20): 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Day 15 (April 21, Spring Game): 4:00 p.m.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Football team, make sure to check out
GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including
Facebook and
Twitter.
