Game Face: On
A Q&A with All-American QB Derek Robertson on fame, family, and the future.
Editor’s note: This interview was conducted before Robertson was injured in a game shortly before the magazine went to press. For the latest, visit monmouthhawks.com.
Derek Robertson rewrote the Monmouth record book last season, throwing for 3,937 yards and 31 touchdowns—both single-season highs for the program. Now back for his final year, the Preseason First Team All-American is leading with the same quiet confidence that’s become his trademark.
Case in point: In this season’s opener against Colgate, Robertson rallied the Hawks from a 31–7 deficit, throwing for 506 yards and four touchdowns in a 42–39 win, the biggest comeback in program history. His postgame take? Pure humility: “It’s really a credit to our receivers. … I have to be a lot better moving forward.”
That’s Robertson in a nutshell: humble, appreciative, and always looking to improve. We caught up with him recently to talk old superstitions, new goals, and why he’s just as steady off the field as he is in the pocket.
LOW PROFILE, HIGH PERFORMANCE.
I don’t like being in the spotlight. I usually don’t even tell people I play football, and when I do, I definitely don’t mention that I’m a quarterback. I love everything about being a quarterback. Both my older brothers played the position, so it’s all I ever wanted to play. But outside of practices and games, I’d rather stay in the background.
I’m not a “rah-rah” type of player. I try to lead by example. My goal is to do everything right and set a standard for how we practice and play. If I’m doing that, I can make sure everyone commits to that standard and it sets us up for success.
LESSONS FROM THE FAMILY PLAYBOOK.
My dad always says that no matter the situation, if you put the work in and trust the process, everything will fall into place. “It’s all gonna be good,” he’ll say. I think it’s a great approach to both football and life.
My brothers have always stressed the importance of being a great teammate. They taught me that if you want to lead players, your teammates need to know that you’re all about them and winning. There are different leadership styles, but to be in command, you have to be a good teammate first.
FAMILY TIES, ON AND OFF THE FIELD.
Having my older brother Jimmy as the quarterbacks coach here at Monmouth makes what I do every day even more special. I get to learn from him, study the game with him, and prepare for each week together. Not many people get to experience that with family, so we’re both trying to take full advantage of it.
A VERY PARTICULAR SET OF STREAMS.
I’m on social media, but I don’t really post anything—I just follow. I’m a huge Barstool Sports guy; their content is hilarious, and I could watch their YouTube videos all day. When it comes to movies, I’m big on the “Taken” series. I can watch those Liam Neeson movies any time they’re on. Recently my roommates and I have been rewatching “Stranger Things” because one of our teammates has never seen it. I think it’s one of the best shows of all time.
HOME IS WHERE THE HAWKS ARE.
Entering the transfer portal never crossed my mind after last season. I love it here at Monmouth, and I want to win a championship here. At the end of the day, I want to play with guys I love who also love to play football. That’s what I have here at Monmouth.
NO BEATS, JUST BALANCE.
I’ve never been the type of player to do the same thing before every game. A lot of guys have their headphones on, getting hyped to music, but that’s not really me. I like to stay mellow and focus on what we’ve prepared for all week. I do have one superstition, though: I still wear the same girdle I’ve had since high school. It’s all ripped up, and some of the guys make fun of it, but I’ll never change it.
GAME PLANNING FOR LIFE.
After my playing days end, I want to be a college football coach. I’ve known that since high school. I love the preparation process Sunday through Friday just as much as I love playing on Saturday. I can’t really see myself doing anything else.