McRoberts signs as free agent with Rams after draft

Paul McRoberts was never a die-hard St. Louis Rams fan growing up.

The Southeast Missouri State wide receiver and St. Louis native considers himself a fan, but was spending so much time perfecting his craft on the football field or the basketball court to get too drawn in to his hometown team.

"I followed along with them, but growing up I got off into sports myself, so it was kind of hard to really follow," McRoberts said in a phone interview Saturday. "But I've always been a fan and I always loved the team because it was my city."

Now that team will take him to a new city as McRoberts signed with the recently-moved Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent Saturday night.

"I'm going to get a change of environment, get a new life," McRoberts said of the move out west. "A lot of people are saying, 'Don't forget about us,' but in my heart you know what kind of guy I am. I'm humble and love everybody, and I'll still remain the same person, just a different location. I'm excited for this new journey."

McRoberts spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday with members of his family at his older sister's house watching the 2016 NFL Draft, waiting for his name to be called, but it never happened.

He started receiving calls from several teams during the sixth round, and the interest only increased once the seven-round, 253-selection draft concluded, and possibly none were as persistent as the Rams.

"They really kept calling and kept blowing up my phone after the draft to really try and get me, so that showed a lot and that was big," McRoberts said.

The Rams didn't have a representative at McRoberts' Pro Day, held at Houck Stadium on April 7, but brought him out to Los Angeles shortly after for a visit.

"Everything -- character, the way I play big on the field, my hand size, just my ability to pick up their offense and things like that when I was out there," McRoberts said of what he thought the Rams thought of him after that visit.

McRoberts, a two-time first-team Ohio Valley Conference selection, caught 76 passes for 940 yards and nine touchdowns and also returned 14 punts for 162 yards and a touchdown during his senior campaign at Southeast.

He amassed 2,435 receiving yards during his four-year career as a Redhawk, which ranks third in school history, and broke the school record with 29 receiving touchdowns in his career.

"I feel like the Rams are a good fit because they have so much faith in me and they're looking for someone to come in and play big like I play, and I feel like I just fit perfect with the team," McRoberts said. "I feel like I'm a missing piece to the puzzle. Just overall I'm excited to be a part of this journey, be a part of the Rams, and just show everybody that even though you change locations that doesn't mean you're the underdogs. We're looking to move out to LA and steady win, steady climb to become a great team."

McRoberts plans to head to California in the next few days to "get it rolling," before organized team activities and rookie minicamp begins.

"I kind of get excited, but I really don't show it. To me it's just football, it's something I live through, but I'm really excited inside," McRoberts said. " ... I'm ecstatic. I'm proud of myself, I'm proud of everyone that worked with me, and I'm just ready to go, really."

McRoberts hadn't had a chance to speak with Redhawks coach Tom Matukewicz, but he and the rest of his staff had "sent me some love" via text. Southeast Hall of Fame receiver and former NFL player Willie Ponder also reached out along with dozens of other supporters.

"I'm feeling blessed," McRoberts said. "What an opportunity to go pro."

Two players from the OVC were selected during the draft. Eastern Kentucky defensive end Noah Spence, who transferred from Ohio State, was selected in the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 39th overall pick.

Eastern Illinois linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round with the 208th overall pick.