Douglas Santo is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Basha High School for AZPreps365.com

The journey for Noah Roberts began when he was 3 years old, watching football with his dad.

Roberts watched as a 25-year-old running back reached his third Pro Bowl and marked his fourth consecutive season rushing for 1,100 yards. Roberts’ love for football and the running back position grew from there.

Roberts, as a freshman, is the starting varsity running back for the Basha Bears, one of just three freshmen on the team. Roberts is averaging 7.5 yards per carry and has two touchdowns on the ground. He has added 154 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air this season.

“It was 2012, I was watching the Baltimore Ravens and number 27 Ray Rice, he did something good,” Roberts said. “And I started liking football.”

Roberts grew up with sports all around him, with his parents there to support him in whatever sport he chose. His love for football continued to grow, and his dad began coaching him when he was 8 years old and did so for three years.

“He would tell me when I was younger, I need to build IQ so when I get older, I know all the positions and where they’re supposed to be,” Roberts said.

Roberts, now 6 feet, 185 pounds, has always had the physical ability, but the mental aspect of the game was what could separate him from others.

“He’s just physically gifted for his age and he’s tough,” Basha head coach, Chris McDonald said. “He doesn’t look like he doesn’t belong, you know, [he] delivers blows instead of taking them.”

Roberts has been given opportunities throughout the season, most notably in the big games, and played his way into a bigger role.

“His general football knowledge and how he not only receives the game but converts the information that he learns into value on the field so quickly continued his reps,” varsity offensive coordinator and running backs coach Greg Lindsay said.

Roberts’ father has always emphasized the mental part of the game for him, helping him to understand that he has all the physical ability, but the extra work he puts it will determine where he goes.

“My dad and I have a strong relationship, we’re like real tight,” Roberts said. “He’s taught me how to be a young man. He’s taught me most of the stuff about the game of football.”

Although his dad might have stopped coaching Roberts on the field after three years, the coaching and constant influence off the field never stopped.

“We watch football a lot, we still go over football to this day,” Roberts said. “NFL football, he shows me a lot of clips and stuff that I need to implement in my game.”

Roberts’ talent and focus on the field doesn’t take away from his youthful, vibrant but mature personality off the field with his teammates.

“He is a 14-year-old freshman, goofy kid, laughs, jokes, fits in very well with his teammates,” Lindsay said. “Sometimes you forget because of his ability on the field, how young and youthful he is. His ability just shows up differently on the field.”

Roberts already has a few college offers on the table, including one from Arizona State, but he’s focused on getting better this season. Roberts' goal for the end of the season is 600 yards, seven touchdowns and a state title.

With the talent Roberts possesses, his coach believes the sky is the limit for him. All the opportunities will be there; his fate will be determined by the effort he puts into the game.

“The amount he studies, the amount he trains, how much stronger he becomes and the more he learns about the game,” Lindsay said. “The ceiling can be the NFL; the ceiling can be whatever he wants it to be.”

Roberts’ best performances this season have come against Saguaro, Hamilton, and Chandler. He’s demonstrated the ability to show up in big games and has the confidence of his coaches on his side. Roberts, though, is staying focused on one day at a time, continuing to grow and learn.

“You got to be one percent better every day. You can’t focus on the next days or the game ahead,” Roberts said. “I just try to remain humble and keep on getting better and keep working.”