As physical specimens go, Florida State edge rusher Janarius Robinson ticks all the NFL boxes as he heads to the 2021 NFL Draft. However, does he have the skill set required to be the first Seminoles’ defensive end to be selected since 2018?
Janarius Robinson NFL Draft Player Profile
- Position: EDGE
- School: Florida State
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
- Height: 6’5 1/2″
- Weight: 266 pounds
Tony Pauline’s Janarius Robinson Scouting Report
Positives: Tall, athletic defensive end who flashes ability. Quick off the snap, resilient and breaks down well. Easily moves about the field, displays good change-of-direction skills, and works his hands. Shows the ability to rush the edge standing over tackle and is fast getting up the field.
Negatives: Possesses a tall, thin build and gets easily controlled at the point. Marginally productive at the college level and really wasn’t much of a factor. Possesses more of a short burst of speed than the ability to sustain and pursue the action.
Analysis: Robinson flashed ability at the college level yet never put together a complete game or elevated his play. He’s a tall, lanky defensive end with growth potential and athleticism, but he must physically mature and, more than anything else, start making plays on the field.
Janarius Robinson Player Profile
Robinson’s physical attributes have defined him since his emergence as one of the best pass rushers at the high school level. Despite starting his football journey as a wide receiver, Robinson put up some impressive defensive statistics for Bay High School. Over three seasons, he amassed 98 tackles, 8 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles while demonstrating special teams’ skills in blocking two field goals.
His imposing presence attracted college programs early and often. Receiving over 20 offers in total, he committed to Florida State even before his junior season. Despite a constant dalliance with Alabama during the recruitment process, he never wavered from his original commitment to the Seminoles.
His performances in his senior season at Bay only elevated the intrigue in the future Florida State edge rusher. Compiling 7 sacks, Robinson earned first-team USA Today All-USA Florida recognition while receiving an invite to Nike’s “The Opening” event.
Robinson’s college football career at Florida State
Despite his impressive senior season, Robinson arrived into a Florida State edge rush room that contained future NFL players in Josh Sweat and DeMarcus Walker. Therefore, he had to wait his turn and redshirt his freshman season. Although he logged 3 tackles and his first career sack against Louisiana-Monroe in 2017, Robinson was still finding his feet in the FSU defense and wouldn’t earn his first start until the following season.
His development as an edge rusher for Florida State began to bear fruit as a redshirt sophomore. Making his first starts for the program, Robinson registered 27 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 4 quarterback hurries. At the same time, his ability to overcome adversity came to the forefront. Just one week after Hurricane Michael destroyed his house, he set a career-high 6 tackles and a sack against Wake Forest.
Over his final two seasons, the edge rusher flashed the promise that Florida State had hoped for out of high school. Making 20 starts between 2019 and 2020, Robinson led the team in tackles for loss as a junior. In a dominant performance against Clemson, he became the first Seminole player to have 4 tackles for loss in one game since 2017.
He followed that up with a team-leading 3 sacks as a senior. Meanwhile, Robinson demonstrated the special teams’ ability that had been evident at Bay with a blocked PAT in the season opener against Georgia Tech.
Following the season, he declared for the 2021 NFL Draft, receiving an invite to the Senior Bowl in the process. Robinson impressed with his measurements and with his ability to convert speed to power on the field.
Janarius Robinson’s best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
In an era where NFL teams prefer to mold athletes into NFL players, Florida State edge rusher Janarius Robinson should have a captive audience. Few players in the class have his size, length, and speed combination.
During the Seminoles’ Pro Day, Robinson demonstrated his strength with 25 bench press reps. Although that alone isn’t mind-blowing, considering how high he has to lift the weight with his 86 1/4″ arms adds some much-needed context.
Although he has some experience stood up over the tackle, Robinson best projects as a traditional defensive end in a 4-3 system. Therefore, some team fits include the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Minnesota Vikings. Although his inconsistent play could see him go undrafted, it is more likely that a team takes a gamble on his physical attributes late on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft.
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Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.