| Robert Sykes |
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 | Class:
Senior
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| Hometown:
Merced, Calif.
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| High School:
Golden Valley High School
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| Height / Weight:
6-5 / 338
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| Position:
Offensive Tackle
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| Birthdate:
09/21/1978
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| Experience:
3V
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PERSONAL--Born 9/21/78 in Merced, CA...son of John H. Sykes Sr. and Lynda Sykes...his father is a retired locksmith and his mother is self-employed...has six brothers and sisters, Denise Johnson, 38; Carolynn Boiles, 37; Rose Jackson, 37; Margo Merritt, 35; John Sykes III; and Sonia Jennis, 29...Robert is in the College of Liberal Arts and his major is American/ethnic studies...his brother played basketball at Texas (1985-86) and at Cal State Fullerton (87-89)...is married to the former Lisa Linder and they have two children, John Sykes IV and Joy Sykes, 3...enjoys playing the saxophone and other percussion instruments...selected OSU because, "the academic business program and the potential of the football program."
OSU--(2000-Senior)--Robert enters his senior year having played in 28 games and has started 13 games, the entire 1999 season, plus he started against Oregon in 1997...he was a fixture at left guard in 1999 and with a year of experience under his belt, Robert should be a solid offensive lineman in 2000...he was a solid pass blocker in 1999 and also was a strong run blocker...he is one of the strongest players on the squad, having posted the eighth best back squat lift during winter conditioning at 460 pounds...he also posted a bench press mark of 340 pounds and a power clean lift of 280.
OSU--(1999-Junior)--Robert entered spring drills completely healthy once again...Robert entered spring drills listed No. 3 on the depth chart at left tackle...last year's starter (1998), Jason White, had reconstructive knee surgery following the 1998 season and was not available for spring practice...as a result, Robert quickly moved into the No. 1 spot at left tackle and had by far his best spring or preseason practice session...proved to be a solid pass blocker and was very consistent all spring...Jared Cornell, OSU's starting left guard, suffered a knee injury that required surgery in the final spring game at Hillsboro...if Cornell is not available to play in 1999, Robert could possibly move to left guard during fall camp...Robert has played in 16 games and started one game, Oregon in 1997, so far in his OSU career...in the weight room, Robert has posted personal bests of 315 pounds in the hang clean, 360 in the bench press, 510 in the back squat and 345 in the incline...has a vertical jump best of 23.50 inches.
(1998-Sophomore)--Robert entered spring drills with one year of experience under his belt and having started his last game against Oregon in 1997...was No. 1 at right guard for the start of spring drills and maintained that position on the depth chart throughout the spring...Robert hasn't come close to realizing his full potential yet...has the physical tools to become a solid Pac-10 lineman...was slightly injured in an automobile accident while returning home for the summer and it hampered his ability to work out during the summer...the result set back his progress...spent the 1998 season as a backup guard and played in eight games, missing a three-game stretch vs. Arizona State, Utah State and Stanford.
(1997-Redshirt Freshman)--Robert played in eight games in 1997 as a backup guard and started one game, Oregon...did not play against Stanford, San Jose State and Arizona...entered spring drills as the No. 2 right tackle on the depth chart...all of OSU's offensive linemen were moved around quite a bit during the spring as the coaching staff looked for the best combinations...Robert was moved to guard midway through the spring of 1997 and concluded spring drills as the No. 2 right guard.
(1996-Freshman)--Robert spent the 1996 season as a redshirt freshman offensive lineman.
GOLDEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL, Merced, CA--(1995-96)--Robert played football for Coach Dennis Stubbs and the Golden Valley High School Cougars in the Central California Conference (Class 1)...earned four letters in football and two in basketball as starting center and earned four in track as a shot put and discus competitor...his first two years in high school were played at Merced High School before the opening of new Golden Valley HS...had bests of 45-2 in the shot and 125-3 in the discus last year as a junior...was a three-year starter in football...was a first-team all-district pick (Yosemite) at offensive tackle and a first-team Dream Team pick in Stanislaus County...attended the California (Berkeley) football camp in 1994 and was named the offensive MVP...he was a top 100 Cal-Hi Sports pick and was named as a blue chip offensive lineman for the west region by Athlon Magazine in its preseason issue...Nick Gomes, a former OSU player, and Sykes played on the same side of the line and Golden Valley had two backs rush for over 1,200 yards as a result of running behind Sykes and Gomes...Golden Valley finished 10-4 in 1995...was selected to play in two summer all-star games--the Chowchilla Rotary Bowl in Chowchilla, CA, and the North-South Kiwanis All-Star game in Merced, CA...turned 17 years old on February 2, 1996...turned down UCLA and California to play at OSU..."He is not even close to his potential yet. He is very dedicated and is a very good athlete for his size. He has good speed and plays center on the basketball team. He has a brother 10 years older who played basketball for Texas. I think he will be an outstanding college lineman," said Coach Stubbs...Robert also made a name for himself in other high school activities and was an officer in the Key Club, BSU and Mecha Club...he was selected to attend the leadership conference in Washington, D.C. by the American Legion of Merced in 1994...he was a member of the Merced marching 100 band and the concert and jazz bands from 1992-94...in 1994, earned the following music honors--a music scholarship to UOP for its 1994 summer session; he was an honorable mention jazz soloist at the Reno, Nevada, Festival; named the outstanding musician and soloist at the Herb Patinoe Memorial Jazz Festival; he was the Central California band review outstanding soloist; and was the school's most valuable musician in 1994-95...also named the outstanding musician at the 1995 Herb Patinoe Jazz Festival...he was a member of the Golden Valley marching, concert and jazz bands as a junior and senior and was also the Golden Valley percussion section leader.
