Former SMU Star’s Mom Shares Emotional Reflection on Son’s Journey

At SMU, he found exactly that.

After two seasons with limited snaps at the University of Miami, Roberts transferred to Southern Methodist University in 2023 and immediately emerged as a difference-maker. In his final season, Roberts tallied 35 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks, anchoring a defense that propelled SMU to an 11-3 record and an ACC Championship.

But for Shanda, it wasn’t just about the numbers.

“Game after game after game, they just kept winning and things just kept getting better for them, and things kept getting better for Elijah.”

She credits the culture cultivated by head coach Rhett Lashlee and the team’s deep-rooted brotherhood as instrumental in her son’s growth.

“Being around that, this brotherhood they have, and being around the fact that the school is going up and they’re winning their games and they’re uplifting each other, I think it makes the whole team better,” she said.

Her pride isn’t just rooted in Elijah’s draft selection, it’s in the man he became through his SMU experience. From a young player looking for direction to a team leader and now an NFL professional, Roberts’ journey is a powerful reminder of what the right environment can do.

Coach Lashlee’s system, Shanda believes, gave her son the platform he had always deserved.

“Whatever formula Coach Lashlee has, it’s working.”

For SMU fans, Elijah Roberts will be remembered not only for his production on the field but for embodying what it means to believe in the process and the program. His rise underscores a larger truth about SMU football: it’s not just a stepping stone, it’s a launching pad.