Since the Outland Trophy winners from 1946 through 1989, did not receive the authentic Outland Trophy, Downtown Rotary Club of Omaha has presented Authentic Trophies to the following past recipients: George Connor, Notre Dame, the first recipient (’46); Larry Jacobson, UNL (’71); Rich Glover, UNL (’72); Dave Rimington, UNL, (’81-’82); Dean Steinkuhler, UNL (’83); Mark May, University of Pittsburgh (’80); Chad Hennings, Air Force Academy (’87); Joe Steffy, West Point Military Academy (’47), Ron Yary, USC (’67), Bill Fischer, Notre Dame (’46) and last year to Lee Roy Selmon, University of Oklahoma ('75).

The 2008 Past Outland Award Trophy will be presented to:  J.D. Roberts, University of Oklahoma ('53)

 

J.D. Roberts earned consensus All-America honors in 1953. An outstanding guard on both sides of the ball, Roberts received the Outland Trophy, given to the top lineman in the country, in 1953.

Also during that year, he was named the consensus Lineman of the Year. He adjusted to the college system quickly and became a starter during his sophomore year.

An extremely rugged and aggressive athlete, Roberts was difficult to block, causing havoc for numerous offenses. The two-time all-conference selection was drafted during the 17th round by the Green Bay Packers in 1954.

He went on to coach the New Orleans Saints during 1972-74. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

J. D. Roberts was one of the most honored players of his time. He played right guard on offense for Oklahoma 1951-1952. When the rules were changed in 1953, he became a two-way performer. In the Colorado game, he blocked a punt that led to an Oklahoma victory. He made seven All-America teams and was the first to sweep all the awards given a lineman - the Outland Trophy and Lineman of the Year with Associated Press, United Press, Fox Movietone News, and Williamson Syndicate. As Oklahoma’s best blocker, he helped the team win the national rushing championship. He stood 5-10 and the lineups sometimes listed him at 187 pounds, sometimes 210. His coach, Bud Wilkinson, said he had “extraordinary ability, speed, and tremendous desire.” Oklahoma went 25-4-2 in his three years. After college Roberts was a lieutenant in the U. S. Marines, then was assistant coach at Oklahoma, Denver, Navy, Auburn, and Houston. He was head coach of the New Orleans Saints 1970-1972, then went into the oil and gas business. He was president of the Oklahoma Lettermen’s club in 1989. In summing up his career in 1993, Roberts said, “I’ll always be a Sooner. I had some great teammates. These guys could play on any team in any time - Billy Vessels, Buddy Leake, Larry Grigg, Buck McPhail."

The 1953 season proved to be critical in Oklahoma football history because it marked the beginning of what became a national record forty-seven game winning streak and the arrival of a freshmen football class that was loaded with future stars that would secure that streak. Among the veterans guard and noseguard J.D. Roberts excelled and is often considered to be the best OU blocker ever. He won the Outland Trophy and National Lineman Of The Year Award and was elected to the College Football Hall Of Fame. After time in the military, Roberts became a long-time college and pro assistant and was head coach of the Saints for three seasons. The season started with a loss to Notre Dame and a 7-7 tie with Pitt but then the fabled winning streak began as the Sooners won nine in a row, including a monumental 7-0 victory over former OU coach Jim Tatum and his National Championship Maryland squad in the Orange Bowl. With the vote taken prior to the bowl games, OU finished fourth while leading the nation in rushing, a credit to All Conference performers Gene Calame, and Larry Grigg in the backfield, and tackle Roger Nelson, end Max Boydston, and center Kurt Burris. HB Buddy Leake continued his fine play while newcomers Tommy McDonald, HB Jimmy Harris, and center Jerry Tubbs gained experience.