Avery Roberts has led the Beavers in tackles in each of the last three seasons. Only five FBS defenders had more tackles than Roberts did this season.

Now he’s headed to the NFL. Roberts, the fifth-year junior linebacker for the Beavers, officially declared for the NFL Draft on Saturday, announcing he will forego his final year of eligibility.

Roberts transferred from Nebraska to Corvallis after the Huskers made a coaching chance in December of 2017. He sat out the 2018 season in accordance with the NCAA’s transfer rules at the time, but from 2019-21, he was as reliable in the middle of the Beaver defense as anyone. Roberts started 10 games in 2019 and led the Beavers with 83 tackles.

He then started each of the team’s six games in 2020 and again led the Beavers in tackles. His 69 stops were also the most among Pac-12 defenders. In 2021, he played in all 12 games and recorded 128 tackles, again leading the conference in stops.

In 29 career appearances for the Beavers, Roberts had 280 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and four sacks. He earned first-team all-conference selections in 2020 and in 2021.