Tre Roberson is trying to make it in the NFL the hard way. After playing quarterback at Indiana and Illinois State, he latched on this offseason as an undrafted rookie free-agent cornerback with the Vikings. He was cut near the end of training camp, and since then he has been signed to and cut from the practice squad multiple times — the latest transaction coming Tuesday when he was once again added. Roberson, who turned 24 Saturday, chatted recently with the Star Tribune's Michael Rand.
Q: I was reading your bio and it sounds like you had a very famous grandfather, Larry Highbaugh, a track star at Indiana. Was he an influence on your life?
A: I mean yes, but he lived in Atlanta and he was working a lot at the high school he worked at as a referee. We were so far apart, but I talked to him enough and I was around him enough. Some of my athleticism comes from him.
Q: You were a two-sport athlete [football and basketball] growing up. When did you have to choose?
A: I chose my sophomore year of high school after my football season. I had gotten hurt playing basketball, tore my meniscus, and that's when I decided I was just going to focus on one sport and try to give it my all.
Q: Being on the practice squad, shuttling back and forth, what's that life like?
A: It's stressful. It's really stressful. But at the same time, you have to be strong and be confident and know that everything is in God's hands and it's going to be best for you. I just try to live day by day. I don't stress, I don't worry about the next day, everything is all about today.
Q: When did you get the call that you were coming back to the practice squad this time?
