Roach considered a “rising star”

Long before there were even whiffs of the NFL, those in the know expected the big stage would eventually come calling for Roach.

“Freddie Roach is a rising star,” former Ole miss head coach Hugh Freeze said in 2017, via 247Sports. “He’s a heck of a recruiter, heck of a technician. Demanding on his kids.”

Matt Luke, another former Ole Miss coach, shared similar sentiments in 2018.

“We’re really fortunate to have him,” Luke said, via TideSports.com. “He is a rising star in this profession. The thing he does best is he has an unbelievable relationship with his players. I think that also carries over into recruiting. But the relationship he has with his players, his players love him. They trust him. I think to be a successful coach, they got to know you care with about them. I think they know that about Freddie.”