120 Players to Know: Aldrick Robinson

[PonyKai]

SMU WR Aldrick Robinson

By Richard Cirminiello

Who is Aldrick Robinson? … Coming out of Waxahachie (Tex.) High School, Robinson elected to play for SMU, rejecting a chance to play in the Big 12. An improbable choice? How about a prescient one? Sure, Robinson couldn’t have known that June Jones would be the Mustang head coach two years after he signed with Phil Bennett’s staff, but it sure has benefited both sides. After getting his feet wet as a true freshman, he erupted into one of Conference USA’s budding superstars, catching 59 passes for 1,047 yards and 11 touchdowns. And that was with a rookie battery mate, Bo Levi Mitchell, who often missed him in the open field. Jones is convinced he inherited a raw gem of an athlete, who’ll take his game to the NFL following the 2010 season. The coach gushes about his junior’s speed, quick first step, and almost limitless upside potential. When Robinson does make it to the next level, he’ll owe Jones a debt of gratitude for making it there. Strike that. The two will be even if Robinson can help end a quarter-century bowl drought before departing.

Robinson’s best game so far was … last Oct. 4 year at UCF. The Knights arguably had the most experienced and talented secondary in Conference USA a year ago. Of course, you’d have a hard time convincing Robinson, who toyed with CB Joe Burnett and Co. for 210 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 10 receptions.

Why you should care about Robinson? … Mustang head coach June Jones describes Robinson as one of the fastest players he’s ever coached and a future first-day NFL Draft choice. Yup, that’s the same Jones that had Andre Rison and Terrance Mathis in Atlanta, and Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullen at Hawaii. His best football is clearly ahead of him, especially in a system that pretty much guarantees monster numbers over the next two seasons in Dallas.

Positives about Robinson … He has the track speed of a legitimate home run hitter, and his burst in the first 10 yards is off-the-charts explosive. A naturally fluid athlete with a good bounce in his step, he averaged almost 20 yards a reception last season. He doesn’t need to be running a fly pattern to deliver a big play, often taking short hitches and gobbling up substantial yards after the catch.

Negatives about Robinson … More than anything else, Robinson needs to improve his concentration, while working on playing at the highest level on every down. He’s prone to lapses at times and can still sharpen his route-running and overall ball skills. At only 5-10 and 175 pounds, he won’t out muscle many defenders for the ball.

A cool thing about Robinson you probably didn’t know … Around family, Aldrick is nicknamed Alcow for an incident at his uncle’s farm involving a hard-charging bovine that forced a young Robinson to use every ounce of his blazing speed to get away.

Career Statistics
2007: 10 receptions for 166 yards
2008: 59 receptions for 1,047 yards and 11 touchdowns
Statistics, information and photo provided by the SMU sports information department

http://cfn.scout.com/2/850360.html

[ponyinNC]

Nice write-up...thanks.

[One Trick Pony]

Scout does good work!

[kull]

nice

[StallionsModelT]

I'm telling you, we ought to have one of the fastest set of WR's in Conference USA with Sanders, Robinson, and Darius Johnson in the lineup. That is some serious speed. If BLM can make the progression in his game we all hope he does then we ought to be a pretty explosive offensive team.

[SMU21TCU10]

I'm telling you, we ought to have one of the fastest set of WR's in Conference USA with Sanders, Robinson, and Darius Johnson in the lineup. That is some serious speed. If BLM can make the progression in his game we all hope he does then we ought to be a pretty explosive offensive team.

Everyone is so sure DJ will start in his first year. He will have like 3 weeks to learn one of the hardest systems for a WR. I think Loftin will take a starting spot. As for the other there is about a dozen guy battling for it. All who will have gone through the spring practice as well. We will see

[StallionsModelT]

Most think DJ is going to be an instant starter b/c he will walk on campus as the second most naturally athletic receiver we have outside of Emmanuel. We have to find a way to get that kid on the field.

[VarsityShop]

Didn't Phil Bennett basically waste Aldrick's freshman year when he should have red-shirted him?

[mrydel]

Didn't Phil Bennett basically waste Aldrick's freshman year when he should have red-shirted him?

Linemen you waste by not redshirting. Skill positions you waste by not playing if they are the best avaiable and not used to the maximum.

[VarsityShop]

Linemen you waste by not redshirting. Skill positions you waste by not playing if they are the best avaiable and not used to the maximum.

But didn't Bennett wait until the season was almost over and then inserted Aldrick in the last couple of games? I just wish that wouldn't have happened. Seems like a waste now, but I suppose Phil was trying to win games and save his job.

[mrydel]

Linemen you waste by not redshirting. Skill positions you waste by not playing if they are the best avaiable and not used to the maximum.

But didn't Bennett wait until the season was almost over and then inserted Aldrick in the last couple of games? I just wish that wouldn't have happened. Seems like a waste now, but I suppose Phil was trying to win games and save his job.

I agree that his redshirt was wasted. I think he should have been used at the beginning or not at all. I think we are saying the same thing.

[PonySnob]

Did Aldrick get suspended along with Emmanuel Sanders at the end of last season?

[jason54858]

Cheese Fries

[OC Mustang]

Did Aldrick get suspended along with Emmanuel Sanders at the end of last season?

No.

[RGV Pony]

Linemen you waste by not redshirting. Skill positions you waste by not playing if they are the best avaiable and not used to the maximum.

But didn't Bennett wait until the season was almost over and then inserted Aldrick in the last couple of games? I just wish that wouldn't have happened. Seems like a waste now, but I suppose Phil was trying to win games and save his job.

I agree that his redshirt was wasted. I think he should have been used at the beginning or not at all. I think we are saying the same thing.

Either way I'm glad PB decided to redshirt Sanders and let Givens be the one to drop the sure TD against TCU.