Alton

Robinson

It’s no surprise to see the Seahawks invest in an athletic edge rusher for the second time in the draft due to the status of Jadeveon Clowney potentially returning still up in the air. Robinson, at 6-foot-3 and 264 pounds, posted an athletic profile in the 71st percentile with a good shuttle time of 4.32 seconds. Robinson’s 2019 season might not have lived up to the expectations he set in 2018 due to a 10 sack year, and he projects as a rotational piece on the edge.

Those meetings obviously haven’t been in-person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but have likely taken place over Skype or Zoom or whatever the cool kids are using now. The 6-foot-3, 264-pound defender has seen his stock rise after a solid combine as well as a quality year with the Orange, and it’s possible that Robinson hears his name called before the end of Day 2.

Robinson (6'3/264) performed well at the NFL Scouring Combine, running the 40 in 4.69 seconds and recording 25 reps in the bench press. According to Zierlein the former Syracuse standout has the potential to have an impact as a pass rusher, but he’ll need to be better when it comes to his approach to getting after the quarterback. “Robinson has the burst and bend to become a pass rushing problem for tackles early in his career, but his approach is too “one-trick” and needs workable counters to become less predictable,” Zierlein wrote in his analysis of Robinson, who projects to be a Day 3 draft pick.

Robinson (6'3/264) began his day with a nice 35.5-inch vertical jump, which he followed up with a slick run through the 40-yard dash. Only NC State’s James Smith-Williams (4.61s) and Florida’s Jabari Zuniga (4.64s) were faster. While Robinson aced his straight-line run on Saturday, PFF’s concerns with the Syracuse defender hinge around his lack of big-time power and overt athleticism off the snap.

PFF passes along that Robinson has logged 23 quarterback hurries and 12 defensive stops in five games this season. By traditional statistics, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior has registered 14 tackles (5.0 for loss), two sacks, three passes defensed and one forced fumble to date. Depending on how the evaluation process breaks for Robinson, a Day 2 selection in next spring’s draft is not beyond the pale.

Suffice to say, Robinson was a menace against Western Michigan. Through his 10 pressures, Robinson (6'4/260) converted 1.5 sacks for the Orange as they became the first defense all year to keep Western Michigan QB Jon Wassink at 50% completion or worse. Robinson only has two sacks on the year, but he is constantly in opposing backfields and has the athleticism to keep NFL teams very interested in spite of his production.

Robinson was outstanding for the Orange last year, as no EDGE had more pressures in the ACC among returning players. Pauline gives him a sixth-round grade, but notes that others in the industry -- the NFL industry, that is -- believe he could be a Day 2 selection. “Robinson has excellent length, but he must fill out his frame (6'4/260) and complete his game before I will move him up the board.”

Robinson outperformed Wake Forest’s Carlos Basham (52) and Pitt’s Rashad Weaver (45) among others for the top honors. Alton was suspended for the Camping World Bowl last season for “personal reasons” but figures to be past those issues at this point. He recorded 10 sacks and 11 quarterback hits last season as a junior and is expected to have another productive season in 2019.

Robinson was hit with a second-degree felony robbery charge shortly after National Signing Day in February. He is being accused of stealing the purse and cell phone of an ex-girlfriend after she caught him hiding in the bushes outside her home. Because the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder remains embroiled in legal issues, the Aggies have opted to move on. Robinson was a three-star recruit for the 2016 cycle.

This according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Office spokesman James Keith elaborated on the charge, saying that on February 9, Robinson’s ex-girlfriend found the 6-foot-2, 220-pound end hiding in her bushes when she arrived home at 11:15 PM. He then allegedly approached her before grabbing her purse and running away. He ultimately dropped the purse, Keith said, but not before taking the victim’s cell phone. The sheriff’s office indicated that Robinson’s been accused of this sort of activity before, as a similar situation allegedly occurred in May. A second degree charge of felony robbery carries with it the potential for two to 20 years in prison.