Podcast Summary: Outta Pocket with RG3

Episode: How God Turned Sawyer Robertson Into the Greatest Comeback Story in College Football
Date: November 17, 2025
Host(s): Robert Griffin III ("RG3"), Greta Griffin
Guest: Sawyer Robertson (Baylor University Quarterback)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the inspiring journey of Baylor’s quarterback Sawyer Robertson, exploring his faith-driven approach to adversity and how he overcame profound setbacks to become one of college football’s most remarkable comeback stories. Robertson openly discusses his struggles and growth through transfers, coaching changes, competition, and personal challenges—highlighting the influential roles of faith, leadership, and support on his football and personal path.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Sawyer’s Identity and Foundation

• Faith as His Core:

  • Sawyer emphasizes that his faith is central to his identity and all he does, especially in difficult times.
  • “...what do I have? Like, what do I know is true? Like, what is my foundation of who I am? And it all just came back to my faith.”
    — Sawyer Robertson [00:00, 02:51]

• Upbringing:

  • Raised with strong faith influences—his grandfather was a Baptist preacher; Sundays meant church and football.
  • College was his first test to “make faith my own,” away from home and family support.

2. College Football Journey & Challenges

• Strategic Transfer Choices:

  • Left Lubbock, TX for Mississippi State at 18, seeking playing opportunity and growth.
  • Faced identity crisis: Recounted the shock of not being “the best player on the field” for the first time in his life.
    — “Got to college and it wasn't like that...kind of that identity crisis...” [05:11]

• Adversity & Mike Leach’s Influence:

  • Struggled with distance from home and pressure to perform.
  • Praised late coach Mike Leach for mentorship, encouragement, and teaching the importance of being true to oneself regardless of outside opinion:

    "He didn't care what you or I said about him...he knew who he was and trusted in that."
    — Sawyer [06:50]

3. Leadership Lessons and Relationships

• Learning from Teammates:

  • Credited Will Rogers (MSU teammate) for demonstrating real leadership and competitive spirit.
  • Maintaining that friendship as a key ongoing source of support.

• The Transition to Baylor:

  • Chose Baylor despite scheme differences (“wide zone offense, hand the ball off a lot”) to be closer to home and prepare for a pro-style system, keeping NFL aspirations in mind.
  • Adjusted personal expectations, focusing on learning skills he’d need at the next level.
  • “My end goal is to play in the NFL, right? ... Might as well learn it while I'm still in college.” [10:41]

4. Dealing with Adversity and Mental Health

• Mental Toughness:

  • Openly discussed struggles with loneliness, over-focusing on football, and lack of off-field support at MSU.
  • Being consumed by football almost “let it become an idol.”
  • Contrasted this experience with Baylor's supportive, faith-oriented community, calling the return to Texas "freeing."
    — “There's a difference between...being locked in and...being, like, consumed and letting it almost, like, become an idol...” [15:10]

• Coping With Setbacks & Faith:

  • Four years as a backup and a tough first playing year at Baylor humbled him and reinforced reliance on faith.
  • “If you knew all the failures...it's like the iceberg picture, right?...it's all the failures under [the surface].” [17:03]

5. Turning Point Moments and Comebacks

• On-Field Breakthroughs:
  • Described the pivotal win versus Texas Tech in Lubbock as a “we figured something out” moment.
  • Repeated comebacks, including dramatic wins over SMU and Kansas State, showcased the team’s growth and learned resilience.
  • “We just learned how to win...having that competitive drive to win in those moments contribute to how Saturdays go in the fall.” [21:43]

6. Coaching & Culture at Baylor

• Coach Dave Aranda’s Impact:
  • Compared Aranda's stoic, philosophical leadership style to Leach’s, inspiring players to go to war for him.
  • On dealing with criticism and adversity:

    “He works his butt off every single day...it's inspiring, honestly, because...you go to war for guys like that.” [25:04]

  • Asserted that the team’s turnaround helped keep Coach Aranda at Baylor.

7. Rapid Fire: Lighthearted Insights

• Pregame Music:
  • Prefers calming music—worship or reggae (Bob Marley)—to avoid getting too hyped. [26:23]
• Favorite Uniform:
  • Gold helmets with black, or all white.
• Quarterback Role Models:
  • Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck.
• Funniest Teammates:
  • Michael Trigg, Kobe Prentice, and Nate Bennett.
• Scout Team Shoutout:
  • Recognized Zetti (D-lineman) as the hardest worker on the scout team.
• NIL Life:
  • Favorite NIL deal: Bass Pro Shops meet-and-greet (new fishing rod).
  • Favorite purchase: Rooftop tent for his truck.
  • Advice to younger players: Invest early and learn financial management.
• Unsung Heroes:
  • The scout team guys who help prepare the team for games.

8. Advice, Reflections, and Message

• On Superstitions:

  • Not superstitious—tries to avoid routines that, if disrupted, would throw him off.
  • Admits to eating very little on game days due to nerves.

• If Football Didn’t Exist:

  • Would be playing baseball.

• QB Call:

  • Would call Tim Tebow to ask about his workout routine.

• Appreciation Segment:

  • Sawyer thanks teammates and Baylor Nation for their support and camaraderie:

    “Thankful for not just what we get to do every Saturday, but all the memories we’ve made both on and off the football field...those moments like that I’ll never forget.” [37:11]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Facing Adversity:
  "It's all the failures under...they see the success, that little piece of success, and that's where the question comes from. But...if you knew all the failures and how many times I've been humbled, like, you wouldn't even think to ask that question, really." — Sawyer [17:03]

• On Coach Leach:
  "He didn't care what you or I said about him...he knew who he was...the approval of man. Not a thing to him." — Sawyer [06:50]

• On Leadership and Support:
  “Leadership of the team to go...win six in a row to finish the season is the reason that you're in the position you are, but it's also the reason that Coach Aranda is still here.” — RG3 [23:11]

• On the Meaning of Faith:
  “I was left there saying, like, man, like, what do I have? Like, what do I know is true? Like, what is my foundation of who I am? And it all just came back to my faith...” — Sawyer [02:51]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Sawyer’s Foundation & Faith: 00:00–04:05
• Mississippi State Transition & Coach Leach: 05:03–08:09
• Leadership Lessons from Will Rogers: 08:09–09:40
• Decision to Transfer to Baylor: 10:23–12:32
• Mental Health & Being Away from Home: 12:32–15:15
• Faith in Facing Setbacks: 16:31–17:03
• Turning Point Wins/Confidence: 19:05–20:52
• Snapbacks and Comeback Victories: 21:10–23:09
• Impact of Coach Aranda: 24:08–25:46
• Rapid Fire Questions: 25:53–35:03
• Sawyer’s Message to Teammates: 37:11

Conclusion

Sawyer Robertson’s story is a testament to the power of humility, faith, and perseverance in college athletics. The episode offers an unfiltered look into the realities of being a highly-touted recruit facing disappointments, the transformative power of mentorship, and the importance of personal growth over statistical achievement. Sawyer’s humility and clarity make this both a motivational and personal episode for athletes and non-athletes alike.

[End of Summary]