Mobile is an excellent proving ground for under-the-radar talent in the NFL Draft process. So it proved on Tuesday, as Dominique Robinson emerged as a shining light in a talented 2022 NFL Draft EDGE class. The Miami-Ohio defensive end has the opportunity to significantly elevate his stock if his performances continue to sizzle throughout the rest of the week at the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Dominique Robinson, an ascending NFL Draft prospect
The sun wasn’t the only thing shining in Mobile, Alabama, on the first Tuesday of February. Amongst a cast of the biggest stars in the 2022 NFL Draft class, Miami-Ohio’s defensive end Robinson shined the brightest. According to Pro Football Network NFL Draft Analyst Ian Cummings, the former RedHawks standout has the potential to be the player of the week.
“Dominique Robinson was one of the biggest risers at Tuesday’s practice,” said Cummings in his National Team practice report, “and could very well be the biggest riser on the edge. Robinson was consistently disruptive in a number of different ways, and it culminated in an excellent first day of football.”
High praise indeed. However, it’s particularly impressive when you consider several factors. Firstly, the sheer depth of the EDGE talent on display at Mobile. Within his own National Team, Robinson is competing for attention with highly rated NFL Draft prospects like Arnold Ebiketie, Boye Mafe, and premier pass rushers from programs like Oklahoma and Ohio State.
Secondly, factor in the level of offensive line talent that the Miami-Ohio DE is competing against. Robinson has impressed against some impressive NFL Draft offensive line talent. Trevor Penning, Daniel Faalele, and Zion Johnson have all commanded first-round attention and form the basis of a solid offensive line room that couldn’t cope with his explosiveness and athletic prowess.
Robinson overcoming the odds (not for the first time in his NFL Draft journey)
“The Miami-Ohio product is an athletic specimen,” continued Cummings in his practice report. “Great explosiveness off the line, and easy flexibility around the edge. He was also able to convert his speed to power and showed he could time swaps precisely at the apex.”
Robinson’s athletic display is hardly surprising for anyone familiar with Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List. The Miami-Ohio defensive end landed at No. 70 on Feldman’s list of athletic specimens before this season. He reportedly bench presses 350 pounds, has a 34-inch vertical jump, and recorded a 4.62-second 40-yard dash — all this while measuring in at 6’4″ and 254 pounds. Robinson also has a ridiculous 82″ wingspan.
Robinson’s athletic prowess has been apparent since his high school career. The Canton McKinley product was a productive dual-threat quarterback, who multiple schools tabbed as simply an “athlete” in the recruiting process. Earning a 3.8 GPA in high school, he attracted attention from Iowa State and Boston College before committing to Miami-Ohio.
“Miami recruited me to play quarterback,” Robinson told the Beacon Journal at the time of his commitment. “But, they also tagged me as an athlete. So if I don’t make the cut as a quarterback, then I can move to any position I want to.”
From wide receiver to NFL Draft defensive end prospect
Robinson switched to wide receiver for the RedHawks. During the 2018 season, he snagged 13 catches for 156 yards and 4 touchdowns. While he didn’t find the end zone in 2019, he averaged a staggering 21.1 yards per catch on 14 receptions for 296 yards.
Yet, it was his 2020 switch to the defensive side of the ball that propelled Robinson onto a collision course with the 2022 NFL Draft. The Miami-Ohio prospect packed muscle weight onto his 220-pound frame and lined up at defensive end. He made an immediate impact, tallying 9 tackles that included 2.5 tackles and 2 sacks in just three games.
In just his second season at the position, Robinson earned third-team All-Mid American Conference honors. Tallying 28 tackles that included 8.5 for loss and 4.5 sacks, the Miami-Ohio DE had standout games against Buffalo and Bowling Green down the stretch. Performances like those helped capture national attention, resulting in a Senior Bowl invite.
Now in Mobile, he’s making the most of his opportunity. Long-armed and athletic, explosive with excellent body control, his upside is exciting. While his inexperience is apparent, NFL teams will love his athleticism and be willing to bet on coaching up the technical side of his game. Robinson was considered a mid-to-late Day 3 NFL Draft prospect coming into the Senior Bowl. Teams might not want to wait that long as his star ascends.