Bradley Roby

Bradley Roby's Biography

Bradley Roby, born on May 1st, 1992, hails from Suwanee, Georgia. The American professional footballer is known for being a top-tier cornerback. He was selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos, notable for playing college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Throughout his career, Roby has played for the Houston Texans and the New Orleans Saints.

During his high school years at Peachtree Ridge High School, Roby was an All-State receiver and defensive back for the Lions program. His senior year saw him recording 42 tackles and six interceptions in addition to 29 receptions for 526 yards. Proving his versatility, he scored 11 touchdowns in various formats and was recognized as a four-time school scholar-athlete. He was also a standout on the school’s basketball team.

Roby was also known for his track and field accomplishments, winning the 100 meters at the 2009 Region 7 AAAAA Championships with a career-best time of 10.72 seconds. He went on to finish third in the 200 meters. His athletic prowess extended to the long jump as well.

ESPN.com regarded him as a three-star recruit, ranking him as the No. 42 athlete in the nation in 2010. His original plan was to play wide receiver at Vanderbilt, but ultimately chose to play defensive back at Ohio State due to renewed interest.

The years from 2010 to 2013 found him at Ohio State University where he redshirted the 2010 season. From 2011, he started all 13 games at cornerback, tying for the team lead with three interceptions and recording 47 tackles. 2012 saw him score touchdowns via different methods – recovered a fumbled punt, a blocked punt, and an intercepted pass. This feat recognized him as the only defensive player to do so at the national level.

Continuing his ascension, Roby was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and first-team All-Big Ten Conference in 2012. He led the nation in passes defended with 19, while adding 63 tackles and two interceptions. By 2013, he was named to the first-team All-Big Ten roster.

Deciding to forgo his final year of eligibility, Roby entered the 2014 NFL draft. He was projected to be a first or second-round pick. Despite suffering a knee injury, he was able to attend Ohio State’s pro day where he showcased his skills for all 32 NFL teams. Despite some legal trouble, he had several private meetings and workouts with multiple NFL teams and was projected to be an early pick.

The Denver Broncos selected Roby as the fifth cornerback in the first round (31st overall) of the 2014 NFL draft. Coach John Fox expressed that character concerns might have affected his ranking. However, he didn’t disappoint. He became the third cornerback on the depth chart by the start of the season, impressing in both coverage and interceptions, and earning his first career start.

2015 found Roby moving from strength to strength, contributing significantly to the undefeated season for the Broncos. He ended the season with 40 tackles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Nicknamed the “No Fly Zone,” the Broncos’ secondary ranked first overall by Pro Football Focus, with Roby bagging an overall grade of 81.0.

In 2016, he maintained a steady performance and was part of the Broncos’ triumphant victory in Super Bowl 50. The following year began on a high note when the Broncos announced they exercised the fifth-year, $8.52 million option on Roby’s rookie contract.

However, moving on to 2018, despite an initial consensus about his promising full-time starting role, his performance that season was described as disappointing. His Pro Football Focus player grade fell, and his inconsistent performance was called out on a national broadcaster.

In 2019, Roby signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Houston Texans. His debut game with the Texans was against the New Orleans Saints. Despite a loss, he displayed splendid performance with 9 tackles. Roby had managed to record another personal first – interception of the season off a pass thrown by Tom Brady. By the penultimate week of the regular season, he had intercepted a pass and returned it for a 27-yard touchdown.

Despite the twists and turns in his decade-long career, Bradley Roby continues to demonstrate his athletic prowess and effective performance. His journey from a high school athlete to a respected NFL cornerback has been nothing short of remarkable.