The Michigan State Athletics Insider Podcast: A Michigan State podcast network
Oct 7, 2026 · 17 min · 12 segments
Michigan State DT Ben Roberts spoke to the media before a home game with Illinois and the Illini on Saturday. Hear what he had to say, courtesy of Jacob Cotsonika on the Michigan State Spartans…
How does that make you feel, and, and what is the expectation with that to go through the rest of the season?
Um, uh, you know, obviously it feels great, right? But, you know, we're not winning right now, so, uh, that's out the window.
Well, I'm, I'm focused on winning, right? And I think I'm expected to come and perform every, every game and every week.
Um, you know, I gotta perform even more 'cause, you know, it's not working, so yep.
What takes, um, w-what lessons did you take from last year when you guys hit that, that slide a year ago to kind of prevent this from going a different way?
I think just sticking together, right? I mean, um, being the older guy, I gotta be able to just bring the team together and keep the team together and not, uh, go against each other 'cause, you know, that's, um, what happened last year, you know, sadly.
But, um, you know, we gotta be able to just keep e-each other accountable, hold each other together.
And, um, you know, when times like this happen, um, guys like me, JR, and all those guys gotta, gotta keep the team up and keep going.
I mean, 'cause, you know, it's a new week, so that's all we can do is move forward and focus on the new week.
How do you feel like you're, uh, physic- you know, physically? You've played a lot of snaps.
You and Eli, it seems like, are, are out there a lot just, you know, handling the workload.
How do you-
I mean, it's great, right? We're in the treatment room twenty-four/seven, so I mean, um, coaches do a great job of putting us in practice, uh, most of the time.
How, like, quickly...
You and Eli playing next to each other so much, how quickly do you think you guys got comfortable playing together, and how do you sort of complement each other as, as-
...two different players?
...with, with, with my position, I, I take all the double teams, right? Um, with my, with my position, I, I, I take the double team so he can make the play.
Um, but, um, I remember, um, when Eli came on his visit and I was back home, and, um, me and D were kind of chopping it up when we found out he was the coach.
Um, and I already knew I was gonna come back, but I didn't announce it obviously.
How does that make you feel, and, and what is the expectation with that to go through the rest of the season?
Um, uh, you know, obviously it feels great, right? But, you know, we're not winning right now, so, uh, that's out the window.
Well, I'm, I'm focused on winning, right? And I think I'm expected to come and perform every, every game and every week.
Um, you know, I gotta perform even more 'cause, you know, it's not working, so yep.
What takes, um, w-what lessons did you take from last year when you guys hit that, that slide a year ago to kind of prevent this from going a different way?
I think just sticking together, right? I mean, um, being the older guy, I gotta be able to just bring the team together and keep the team together and not, uh, go against each other 'cause, you know, that's, um, what happened last year, you know, sadly.
But, um, you know, we gotta be able to just keep e-each other accountable, hold each other together.
And, um, you know, when times like this happen, um, guys like me, JR, and all those guys gotta, gotta keep the team up and keep going.
I mean, 'cause, you know, it's a new week, so that's all we can do is move forward and focus on the new week.
How do you feel like you're, uh, physic- you know, physically? You've played a lot of snaps.
You and Eli, it seems like, are, are out there a lot just, you know, handling the workload.
How do you-
I mean, it's great, right? We're in the treatment room twenty-four/seven, so I mean, um, coaches do a great job of putting us in practice, uh, most of the time.
How, like, quickly...
You and Eli playing next to each other so much, how quickly do you think you guys got comfortable playing together, and how do you sort of complement each other as, as-
...two different players?
...with, with, with my position, I, I take all the double teams, right? Um, with my, with my position, I, I, I take the double team so he can make the play.
Um, but, um, I remember, um, when Eli came on his visit and I was back home, and, um, me and D were kind of chopping it up when we found out he was the coach.
Um, and I already knew I was gonna come back, but I didn't announce it obviously.
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