Background: He was an accomplished punt returner at Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, and a good receiver, but the Big Ten schools wanted him, at best, to be a preferred walk-on. The Big Ten may have missed out on someone who could become the most dangerous punt returner in college football history – and one heck of an outfielder. Robinson is one touchdown away from the NCAA mark for punt return TDs of eight held by Texas Tech’s Wes Walker and Oklahoma’s Antonio Perkins. Robinson is 143 yards away from breaking Walker’s career punt return yardage record of 1,761 yards. But could Walker and Perkins hit a slider? Robinson is an all-Mid-American Conference outfielder who led the league in steals and triples. As a junior, he played 8 1/3 innings of a baseball game, went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases, then jogged to the football stadium, where he caught five passes for over 100 yards and two TDs in the spring game. “I was extremely tired, to the point where I dropped,” Robinson said. “I didn’t get back up again.”
Stat line: He has seven career punt returns for TDs, including an 80-yarder Saturday at Cincinnati. He has 1,619 career punt-return yards and is fifth nationally this year, averaging 19.5. He’s sixth in receiving yards (98.0 average).
What’s up: Robinson said returning punts “is more instincts, knowing how to run with the ball and follow blockers. My teammates do a great job of setting up blocks and getting in the way of people. Courage has nothing to do with it, except for the possibility of getting your head smashed in.”
What’s next: The RedHawks (0-5) host Northern Illinois (3-2) Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN
Henderson’s take: I enjoy watching the MAC purely to see the talent that slips through the cracks of the Big Ten. Also, there is nothing more exciting and nothing changes a game’s momentum more than a kick return for a TD. As Robinson said, “When you see a long run, my teammates are running down the sideline with me.” As for what the career yardage record would mean to him, Robinson was modest: “I’m not sure. It wouldn’t mean too much if we’re not winning.” And if he doesn’t make it in the pros as a football or baseball player? Well, he’s also an accomplished pianist.
