CHOP Robinson
STRENGTHS: Exceptional get-off quickness to win at the snap … upfield burst sustains through second, third and fourth strides, allowing him to dip inside shoulder,corner and flatten to the quarterback … nimble-footed and displays the lateral quickness to cross the face of blockers without resistance … uses athletic maneuverability when lined up over the guard or center to slip blocks and find the ball in the gap … creates forward lean/momentum and slams both hands into blockers to create speed-to-power rush … active hands help free himself from blocks … extends reach with bent knees at the point of attack to create leverage as an edge setter … able to stop on a dime and find balance as a tackler to pounce and finish … athleticism translates well when dropping into coverage zones … didn’t take long for him to become a team leader after transferring to State College … ranked top 10 in the FBS in pass rush win percentage (20.8 percent) in 2023 …
WEAKNESSES: Lean-muscled body type and doesn’t have ideal armor on his frame … doesn’t have the raw power to create an effective bull rush without a few steps of momentum … can be steered past the pocket because of average body strength … will be driven from his spot in the run game and will be challenged by wham/mash blocks in the NFL … missed two games as a junior because of concussion symptoms (November 2023) … modest volume production (averaged less than two tackles per game in his career) … only one season as a full -time starter and was part of a rotation (averaged 30.3 defensive snaps per game in 2023).SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Penn State, Robinson was a wide-aligned pass rusher in former defensive coordinator Manny Diaz’s scheme, standing up and rushing with his hand on the ground. After one season at Maryland, he transferred to Penn State (partly because he wanted to remain a pass rusher instead of moving to linebacker) and was one of the most disruptive players in the country (42.7 percent of his tackles the past two seasons came in the backfield). While some pass rushers require a runway to build up speed, Robinson accelerates 0-to-60 in a blink, creating instant suddenness from his spot to shoot gaps or win races to the corner.
He shows natural rush instincts and uses a variety of swats, swipes and dips to evade blocks, although his counters need further development. He is a tougher run defender than expected, but he is slightly undersized and could use additional bulk to better match up with NFL blockers. Overall, Robinson needs to continue developing to prove he isn’t a one-trick pony, but his first-step explosiveness and aggressive hands give him the potential to be the most dynamic pass rusher inthis class. He is ideally suited as a wide-nine defender who can be schemed across the front.
