Temple University Athletics
DE Adrian Robinson
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Adrian Robinson: The Ultimate Team Player
11.27.11 | Football
Gameday Feature Story
by Cathy Bongiovi, Athletic Communications
Defensive end Adrian Robinson has always been the ultimate team player. While individual accolades have been plentiful throughout his prep and collegiate careers, the Harrisburg native constantly puts his team first.
The three-star prospect by Scout.com played at Harrisburg High School. As a senior, he helped the Cougars to a 12-2 record. The team made back-to-back state semifinal appearances in 2006 and 2007. As a senior, he finished with 75 tackles, 19 sacks, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a touchdown. The first-team All-State honoree was selected to play in the Big 33 All-Star Game, one of a school record five Temple Owls to play, and earned MVP honors.
“I've always played defense, but I played a little offense as a kid growing up,” Robinson said. “Every defensive lineman is a running back at heart.”
Robinson also excelled at wrestling, posting a 22-10 record in his first year as a sophomore and a 33-3 mark as a senior.
Selecting Temple was an easy choice.
“I always say this every time, I saw that there was glory to be made,” Robinson shared. “I saw the people that were here, not just the coaches but the players. They looked like athletes. Once I met them, I knew I could do a lot here with them.”
Robinson has had a storied career at Temple. A team captain, he has played in every game of his collegiate career with 36 starts, the most of any Owl on this year's roster.
As a true freshman in 2008, Robinson played in all 12 games with three starts, becoming one of just six freshmen to play in every game.
In 2009 as a sophomore, Robinson played in all 13 games with 10 starts at left end. Named a first-team All-MAC honoree and the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, he led Temple and the MAC with 13 sacks, finishing the season with 46 tackles, including a team-best 14 TFL, a team-best five forced fumbles, three break-ups, and three hurries. He and the Owls advanced to the EagleBank Bowl, making the program's first bowl game appearance in 30 years.
“I've been very blessed by God,” Robinson said of his sophomore season. “I'm just happy to do that.”
Last fall, the two-time All-MAC honoree started all 12 games at right end, one of just seven Owls to start every game. In the win over Bowling Green, Robinson blocked the extra point on the Falcons' first touchdown, forcing BGSU to go for two on the game's final play. He scored his first touchdown in the win over Connecticut, returning a fumble 24 yards for the score en route to Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
“The individual stats always mean a lot,” Robinson said. “But the biggest thing to me was that I did the best I could here for my teammates.”
Defensive coordinator Chuck Heater praises Robinson's athletic abilities.
“Adrian's a good player. He makes plays,” Heater said. “If you want to be a good defense, you have to have playmakers-- guys that can make a play and get you off the field. Our Miami game was a good example of that; that was an outstanding game. He's certainly been a playmaker here throughout his career at Temple.”
Fellow senior captain and Harrisburg native Morkeith Brown likes Robinson's work ethic.
“Adrian has been a leader by example,” Brown said. “If something needs to be done, he gets it done, and that's the kind of guy I want to compete with on the field. He's going 100 percent all the time.”
This fall as a senior, Robinson has started all 11 games. A candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, he was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. While his efforts don't always show up on a stat sheet, his play wreaks havoc on opposing offenses.
“Adrian plays relentless," head coach Steve Addazio said. "He flushes the quarterback out of the pocket and chases him around like a crazy man.”
Robinson and his classmates will graduate as the all-time winningest Senior Class in Temple football history.
Today as Robinson and his fellow seniors play their final game at Lincoln Financial Field, nostalgia will be in the air. There may be tears, there may be smiles, but most of all, there will be more football to play.
“This is going to be a different game for me.” Robinson said about today's home finale. ”I'm not sad. I'm proud, and I'm happy for all the work I've done and all the things I've done as a part of this program, so I'm not sad. It's just like, 'Wow, I came this far'. I love it.”
Defensive end Adrian Robinson has always been the ultimate team player. While individual accolades have been plentiful throughout his prep and collegiate careers, the Harrisburg native constantly puts his team first.
The three-star prospect by Scout.com played at Harrisburg High School. As a senior, he helped the Cougars to a 12-2 record. The team made back-to-back state semifinal appearances in 2006 and 2007. As a senior, he finished with 75 tackles, 19 sacks, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a touchdown. The first-team All-State honoree was selected to play in the Big 33 All-Star Game, one of a school record five Temple Owls to play, and earned MVP honors.
“I've always played defense, but I played a little offense as a kid growing up,” Robinson said. “Every defensive lineman is a running back at heart.”
Robinson also excelled at wrestling, posting a 22-10 record in his first year as a sophomore and a 33-3 mark as a senior.
Selecting Temple was an easy choice.
“I always say this every time, I saw that there was glory to be made,” Robinson shared. “I saw the people that were here, not just the coaches but the players. They looked like athletes. Once I met them, I knew I could do a lot here with them.”
Robinson has had a storied career at Temple. A team captain, he has played in every game of his collegiate career with 36 starts, the most of any Owl on this year's roster.
As a true freshman in 2008, Robinson played in all 12 games with three starts, becoming one of just six freshmen to play in every game.
In 2009 as a sophomore, Robinson played in all 13 games with 10 starts at left end. Named a first-team All-MAC honoree and the MAC Defensive Player of the Year, he led Temple and the MAC with 13 sacks, finishing the season with 46 tackles, including a team-best 14 TFL, a team-best five forced fumbles, three break-ups, and three hurries. He and the Owls advanced to the EagleBank Bowl, making the program's first bowl game appearance in 30 years.
“I've been very blessed by God,” Robinson said of his sophomore season. “I'm just happy to do that.”
Last fall, the two-time All-MAC honoree started all 12 games at right end, one of just seven Owls to start every game. In the win over Bowling Green, Robinson blocked the extra point on the Falcons' first touchdown, forcing BGSU to go for two on the game's final play. He scored his first touchdown in the win over Connecticut, returning a fumble 24 yards for the score en route to Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week accolades.
“The individual stats always mean a lot,” Robinson said. “But the biggest thing to me was that I did the best I could here for my teammates.”
Defensive coordinator Chuck Heater praises Robinson's athletic abilities.
“Adrian's a good player. He makes plays,” Heater said. “If you want to be a good defense, you have to have playmakers-- guys that can make a play and get you off the field. Our Miami game was a good example of that; that was an outstanding game. He's certainly been a playmaker here throughout his career at Temple.”
Fellow senior captain and Harrisburg native Morkeith Brown likes Robinson's work ethic.
“Adrian has been a leader by example,” Brown said. “If something needs to be done, he gets it done, and that's the kind of guy I want to compete with on the field. He's going 100 percent all the time.”
This fall as a senior, Robinson has started all 11 games. A candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award, he was named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List. While his efforts don't always show up on a stat sheet, his play wreaks havoc on opposing offenses.
“Adrian plays relentless," head coach Steve Addazio said. "He flushes the quarterback out of the pocket and chases him around like a crazy man.”
Robinson and his classmates will graduate as the all-time winningest Senior Class in Temple football history.
Today as Robinson and his fellow seniors play their final game at Lincoln Financial Field, nostalgia will be in the air. There may be tears, there may be smiles, but most of all, there will be more football to play.
“This is going to be a different game for me.” Robinson said about today's home finale. ”I'm not sad. I'm proud, and I'm happy for all the work I've done and all the things I've done as a part of this program, so I'm not sad. It's just like, 'Wow, I came this far'. I love it.”
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