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DB/KR, 5'8, 162, 4.27, 280 BP
Lakeland, FL
Nickname: Beep-Beep
Birthday: 7-1-80
High School: Kathleen
HS Mascot: Red Devils
HS Coach: Dave Robson
HS Position: QB/RB/WR/DB/KR
HS Number: 7
Official Visits: Alabama
Second Choice: FSU
Host During Alabama Visit: Reggie Myles
Committed: 1-21-99
Academic Status: Qualified
Stats
HS Junior Season
Interceptions
HS Senior Season
Receptions
Rushing
Honors
- Two-time All-County
- Two-time All-Area
- Two-time All-State
- Tampa Tribune National Top 100
- Forrest Davis All South
SBR Scouting Report
Speed to burn. Good hands. Definite special teams returner who could also get a look at cornerback or wide receiver. Breaks well on the football in pass coverage. Runs well after the catch as a receiver. Projects as a wide receiver.
[Observation: highlight tape.]
Stories
The Cottrell Connection
Roberto McBride was concerned when he heard the news that Ronnie Cottrell was leaving FSU to go to Alabama.
"Coach Cottrell had been recruiting me for Florida State since I was in the tenth-grade," McBride says. "Alabama wasn't recruiting me back then. I was worried that I might not hear from Coach Cottrell again."
But Ronnie Cottrell never forgets a prospect-- especially one with 4.27 speed.
"I was pretty excited when he called again," McBride says. "He said, 'Roberto, I want you up here at Alabama with me.' I didn't tell coach this, but that's all I needed to hear."
Cottrell and McBride go back to the summer before McBride's sophomore season at Lakeland Kathleen.
"He was the first coach to notice me at the Florida State football camp," McBride says. "He told me then that I was going to be a great player."
McBride says that for the past two years Cottrell has written him letters almost daily. The letter that McBride remembers the most is the one that he received with a Los Angeles postmark.
"Florida State had gone out to play Southern Cal in the first game of the year," McBride says. "Coach Cottrell wrote me a letter from Los Angeles. That really got my attention."
By his signing with the Tide, McBride, a lifelong FSU fan, is following Cottrell's lead of switching to Alabama.
"There's no comparison between Alabama and FSU," McBride says. "The stadium at Alabama is much better. The players and coaches are down to earth. The Alabama fans are crazy about football."
And, of course, Alabama has Ronnie Cottrell.
Beep-Beep Shines At FSU Camp
A few summers ago at the Florida State football camp, FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews tagged Roberto McBride with the nickname Beep-Beep.
"Coach Andrews had been watching me work with the defensive backs," recalls McBride. "He pulled me to the side and said he was going to call me Beep-Beep because I've got speed people like 'The Roadrunner'."
McBride, a sophomore at the time, was one of the biggest surprises at the FSU camp.
"At first I thought that I was wasting my time and money by going to the camp," McBride says. "I was intimidated because there were a lot blue-chippers and All-Americans there. By the end of the camp, I was the only sophomore working with the seniors."
Following his junior season, McBride was timed at 4.27 in the 40.
Thanks, Mom!
When Roberto McBride played in the Lakeland recreation football league as a 13 year-old, he was the worst player on his team.
"The only thing that I was good for was running reverses," McBride says. "I was fast, but I couldn't catch or tackle or anything."
Discouraged, McBride would've given up football if his mother had let him.
"She told me if I keep trying that someday I could be the best player on the team," McBride says.
A few years later when McBride started high school, his mother convinced him to try out for the freshman team.
"A lot people, even some people that were supposed to be my friends, laughed and said there's no way I was good enough to make the team," McBride says. "But my mom kept encouraging me. She insisted that I try out for the team."
McBride made the freshman team as a running back and kick returner. In the first few games that season he was so impressive returning punts and kickoffs that his coaches moved him up to the varsity. He went on to have an outstanding high school career.
Following last season, The Tampa Tribune named McBride one of the nation's top 100 prospects.
"It was a great feeling when I saw that in the paper," McBride says. "I just want to say thanks to my mom because she's always been my inspiration. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't even be playing football."
McBride's Kickoff Return Shocks Lake Gibson
SBR
McBride |
With 10 seconds remaining until halftime, Lake Gibson had just tied the game 7-7. The last thing they wanted to do was give Roberto McBride a chance to return the kickoff.
"They tried a squib kick," McBride recalls. "It hit one of my teammates and ricocheted back towards me. I picked it up and there was nothing but garnet and gold [Lake Gibson players] around me."
McBride's instincts took over.
"In a situation like that, you don't have time to think," he says. "You just try to find some daylight and go."
McBride found daylight and went.
"I made a move to my right and broke loose. I went all the way down the sideline 87 yards for the touchdown."
Kathleen won the game in overtime 17-14.
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