Back in 2024, Alabama’s 6-5, 322-pound Jaeden Roberts made it to The Athletics’ ‘Freak List’. It wasn’t much of a surprise after he squatted 825 pounds, benched 525, and power cleaned 405 that summer. With 18% body fat and 272 pounds of lean muscle, his size would surprise anyone. One mention of him in the list would hardly suffice… And so The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, who has been compiling the ‘Freak List’ since 2005, mentioned Alabama’s offensive lineman yet again this year.

Feldman reported Roberts’ frame to be 6-5, 327 pounds this year. And just like last year, his power numbers were impressive: Squatted 805 pounds and power cleaned 415, while his bench press stayed the same as 2024. As per Feldman, “He vertical jumped 29 inches and hit 19.06 mph.” While the numbers, especially squats, look good, did you know he came somewhat close to touching a Texas state record?

Well, if we go back to 2019, Rudder High School (Texas) student Clifford ‘Quad’ Chambers broke the state squat record after squatting 850 lbs. He was a senior on the school’s powerlifting team, and post the achievement, he said: “I look at 850 as I look at 800. I had that same mindset. It’s just another lift.”

Roberts, who is also a Texan, might get there too… or did he already? He has been putting in work during the offseason, and last month, his mother, Twanisha, revealed something incredible. “Big J.. Breaking records squatting 900lbs at Bama! Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready! Roll Tide yall!” That’s yet another reason for his reappearance on the ‘Freak List’.

The story isn’t just in the numbers, though. Roberts earned every bit of this freak label the hard way. He redshirted in 2021, barely saw snaps in 2022, then broke out as a right guard in 2023. Plus, let us not forget how he has been brutal with his hands at the point of attack. Initially, he wasn’t expected to start that year, but he decided to stay in Tuscaloosa and make the most of the opportunities that came his way.

However, stories of his physical prowess date back to his high school days at North Shore High in Texas. Roberts won back-to-back 6A-DI state titles and famously pushed a 1,400-pound sled at age 16.

All that strength sounds promising for Alabama. With Roberts alongside fellow returning starters Kadyn Proctor (offensive tackle) and Parker Brailsford (center), Bama’s O-line is terrifying. Proctor and Brailsford were also a part of The Athletics’ 2025 ‘Freak List’. Bruce Feldman admired Proctor for squatting 815 pounds, benching 535, and power cleaning 405. On the other hand, Brailsford was added to the list because of how well he thrived during his debut season with Alabama in 2024.

“Against Georgia’s talented defensive front, Brailsford graded out at 94 percent and totaled five knockdown blocks in 70 snaps of action.  The 6-2, 290-pound Arizona native has just 19 percent body fat and bench pressed 505 pounds, power cleaned 385 and squatted 675. His agility is part of what makes Brailsford such a terrific center: He vertical jumped 33, broad jumped 9-5 and hit 19.47 mph on the GPS,” Feldman wrote about him.

So now, after a 9-4 letdown in Kalen DeBoer’s debut season, the Tide aren’t exactly in the mood to play nice. Roberts came back not just to dominate SEC fronts but to polish his technique, stay healthy, and make sure NFL scouts leave Tuscaloosa drooling.