Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Bogalusa’s Raheem Roberts is No. 1 in the state at the athlete position (46th in the country) by Top247 at 247sports.com and is No. 19 overall for the Louisiana Class of 2021.

The senior is being heavily recruited and said the ranking is a blessing and comes with hard work and dedication.

“The top 20 doesn’t just come to you,” Roberts said. “There are a lot of good athletes in the state of Louisiana.”

Roberts, who is a three-star recruit on the web site, has been playing football since he was six years old.

“That’s all I grew up around,” Roberts said. “I grew up around sports and stuff.”

Roberts, who is a wide receiver/cornerback, said his best position is receiver. Roberts said his strengths at receiver is speed and route running and talked about the importance of the two. “That helps me get separation. It helps me get away from people. I study film and that helps me high point the ball,” Roberts said.

Roberts last ran the 40-yard dash last summer and completed it in 4.5 seconds.

Last season, Roberts was a first-team all-district player for receiver and defensive back. He was also a Class 3A second-team all-state Louisiana Football Coaches Association All-State wide receiver/tight end. In his sophomore year, Roberts was a second-team all-district wide receiver.

“Raheem is a good kid with a bright future and it’s been fun watching him grow up and develop as a player as well as a young man,” Bogalusa coach Adam Brumfield said. “Last year he made a lot of big plays for us and I’m sure he will make even more this year.“

Last season, Roberts caught 28 passes for 424 yards and five touchdowns.

Roberts is also tough defensively. He intercepted seven passes last season.

“He’s a good kid back there,” Bogalusa defensive backs coach Bruce Plummer said. “He’s got really good ball skills. He can play the ball in the air, adjust his body and make interceptions. I remember a play from I think it was two years ago against Loranger. I think it was fourth down. He was at safety, man-to-man. The guy threw like a 30-40 yard pass downfield and he was running with the guy step-for-step and he went up and made the pick and we went on to win the game.”

Plummer said his first experience of coaching Roberts was when his corner was in eighth grade.

“It was my first year with the varsity,” Plummer said. “The last two games of the season, we dressed him in varsity. We actually played him in the last game. He played about 4-or-5 plays. He didn’t make any plays, but he was always there around the ball and he’s been moving up the ladder ever since.”

Roberts said his favorite part about football is the contact.

“You’ve got to be tough to play football,” Roberts said. “It’s not for everybody.”

Roberts said that some of his biggest influences have been his parents Shemay Roberts and Richard Morris along with his uncles. Two of his uncles played college football in Rumeall Morris and Rondarious Morris. Both went to Bogalusa High School and played for Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.

“They push me to be better and never give up,” Raheem Roberts said. “My uncle Rondarious, he trains with me to help me with my footwork and speed. My momma, she taught me a lot of things.”

Besides football, Roberts is also a track/field athlete and has excelled there as well.

Roberts is a triple jumper, high jumper, javelin thrower and he runs the 4×100 and 4×200-meter relays along with the 200 meters.

This season, Roberts was the Division 2 state champion in the triple jump at 45 feet, 4.25 inches.

Roberts was selected a 2020 all-state triple jumper by the Louisiana Track and Field Coaches Association.

He was also sixth in the high jump at 5-10.

Most of the 2020 outdoor track-and-field season was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Roberts reached the state outdoor meet his sophomore season in the triple jump and javelin.

Weather in the area that day forced some rescheduling and both events were at the same time in completely different locations, so Roberts had to pick one event and chose the triple jump.

Roberts hit the podium in the triple jump at 44-8.25, coming in second place.

Roberts talked about his key to success in track/field.

“Just going over my technique,” Roberts said. “Coach (Eddie) Walker is a good coach. He’s been doing this for a long time. He brings the best out of me and I just practice on it.”

Coach Walker is Bogalusa track/field coach Eddie Walker, who spoke highly of Roberts.

“Raheem is an outstanding kid, well rounded, smart and has a good sense of humor. He has a competitive spirit,” Walker said.

Walker talked about what Roberts brings to track/field.

“He brings leadership, he’s a team player, he’s one of the best athletes and he always brings up the team morale and he’s always prepared to workout,” Walker said. “He loves working out and is always going the extra mile. He’s usually the first one to practice and the last one to leave. He has great athletic ability and can do anything he puts his mind to. He has great potential.”

Fans of LHSAA teams in Washington Parish will have a great opportunity to see Roberts at the Washington Parish Jamboree that takes place Aug. 28 at Franklinton High School.