“I’m not planning on getting surgery because if I get surgery, then I’ll probably have to miss the first couple games this year,” Roland said after the Lexington-Irmo basketball game on Saturday. “I want to come in and play early, so I’m not going to get surgery.”
Roland, who just recently returned to Lexington, S.C. from the Under Armour All-America game, said that he injured the shoulder in practice when he was running a route and was hit hard by a linebacker.
“It’s fine now,” Roland said. “I injured it last week—like Sunday—I didn’t dislocate it or anything. I just got hit, but right now, it’s 100 percent.”
Though Roland said he won’t have surgery on the shoulder, he won’t waste any time making sure it’s healthy.
“I probably will do some rehab,” Roland said. “I’m planning on getting in the weight room tomorrow and work on it—get it stronger and everything.”
Roland, who had a 16-yard touchdown catch in the Under Armour game, is also South Carolina’s Mr. Football. The Lexington High two-sport standout said the game was a taste of the competition he'll face on the collegiate level.
“I had a great time down there with all those guys and it was a great experience for me,” Roland said. “I think the game showed me what it’s going to be like in college next year.”
Furthermore, while Roland was in St. Petersburg, he found out that Gamecock wide receiver Alshon Jeffery declared for the NFL Draft, which Roland sees as motivation for himself in the future.
“That’s great motivation for me,” Roland said. “I just see myself in his shoes, like in a couple years, I could be in the draft. I think their style of offense fits me most because it’s kind of like my high school offense, and I think I can make an impact early. Hopefully, I can go to the NFL Draft, just like Alshon.”
Roland, who has also been a star basketball player for the Wildcats, said he’s not sure if he’ll play both sports at USC, like Bruce Ellington did this past season, though he said it could go either way.
Roland is rated a four-star recruit by most recruiting services and led Lexington to an undefeated regular season this past year, tallying 79 catches for 1,546 yards and 19 touchdowns.
