Fredrick Robertson didn’t have to wait long to show Alcorn State what he could do.
The Louisiana Tech transfer stepped into a bigger role against Texas Southern and delivered one of the best performances of his young Braves career, rushing for 105 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning score in Alcorn State’s 43-40 overtime victory.
For Alcorn coach Cedric Thomas, however, Robertson’s breakout performance wasn’t exactly a surprise.
“We see it every day,” Thomas said on Monday about Robertson, who was named SWAC Newcomer of the Week.
Opportunity came knocking.
Alcorn entered the season with questions about who would emerge as the team’s primary option in the backfield.
Ernest Temple appeared to answer some of those questions after rushing for 144 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. But when Temple went down, another opportunity opened up.
Robertson took advantage.
“You know, Fred, late transfer, Louisiana kid, just excited about him being in the program,” Thomas said. “But we see it every day. We’re just glad that it took that week for him to come out and share.”
More expected from Robertson
Robertson’s performance against Texas Southern came at a critical time for Alcorn.
The Braves led by 22 points in the second half before Texas Southern rallied to force overtime. With the game on the line, Robertson delivered again, scoring on a one-yard run to give Alcorn the victory.
Now, Thomas expects Robertson’s emergence to become more than a one-game story.
“We expect him to continue to do that going down the stretch,” Thomas said.
Robertson’s performance also gives Alcorn another established option in a backfield that has already shown it can produce multiple contributors.
With Temple having already demonstrated his ability to carry the offense and Robertson now coming off a four-touchdown performance, the Braves have added another dimension to their rushing attack.
