Mar. 15—STATE COLLEGE — Chop Robinson ran the 40-yard sprint two weeks in the past on the NFL Scouting Mix, seemed for his time in each route and could not discover it.
Not till he noticed fellow Penn State teammate Adisa Isaac and different defensive ends he knew from coaching did he understand he had carried out one thing particular.
“I used to be strolling again and I noticed Adisa and the opposite guys,” Robinson recalled Friday at Penn State’s Professional Day. “They have been clapping (their arms) and have been so comfortable for me. I knew I hit one thing loopy. I used to be simply excited after seeing these guys react.”
The 6-3, 254-pound Robinson clocked a 4.48 in Indianapolis, one of many quickest 40-yard sprint occasions ever recorded by a defensive lineman on the Mix. He additionally had a broad leap of 10 ft, 8 inches, which helped him submit the third-best general athleticism rating by a defensive lineman this 12 months.
It was no marvel why Robinson stays on an emotional excessive and why he could not comprise his smile Friday.
“I truly known as him (Penn State line of defense coach Deion Barnes) proper after the Mix,” he mentioned. “He was simply so excited and so comfortable for me. He mentioned I seemed easy within the drills.”
Robinson was amongst a few dozen Penn State gamers who labored out in entrance of NFL assistant coaches and scouts at Holuba Corridor.
Penn State tight finish Theo Johnson additionally has seen his inventory rise significantly because the Nittany Lions ended their season with a 38-25 loss to Ole Miss within the Peach Bowl.
Johnson impressed NFL groups on the Senior Bowl in January after which ran a 4.57 within the 40 on the Mix, the second-fastest time amongst tight ends. He additionally had the quickest shuttle time amongst tight ends, tied for the quickest 10-second break up and completed second within the broad leap (10-5) and vertical leap (39.5).
RAS, a web site that determines relative athletic scores on the Mix, mentioned Johnson scored a 9.99 out of a doable 10, the second-highest rating amongst tight ends during the last 37 years.
“I really feel actually good about it,” Johnson mentioned Friday. “This complete course of is one thing you practice to your complete life. I really feel like I capitalized on the chance. I really feel like I did the most effective I may. I am in a great spot proper now.”
NFL Community analyst Daniel Jeremiah described Johnson as the most effective tight finish on the Senior Bowl. ESPN analyst Matthew Miller mentioned final month he may very well be the third tight finish taken after Brock Bowers of Georgia and Cade Stover of Ohio State.
He is projected to be taken within the second or third spherical.
“I believe I’ve helped myself a ton,” Johnson mentioned. “I used to be a man who individuals had quite a lot of questions on. I wasn’t capable of put as a lot as I needed on tape. I believe I’ve proven people who I can transfer properly.
“I wish to present all people that I am fluid in my routes and that I transfer so much in a different way than a typical 6-6, 260-pound man. I can do something a good finish must do.”
Johnson caught 34 passes for 341 yards and 7 touchdowns final season, tying for second on the staff in receptions with fellow tight finish Tyler Warren, who returns to Penn State.
He mentioned he is obtained quite a lot of recommendation from former teammates Brenton Unusual, who was a second-round choose final 12 months by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Pat Freiermuth, who additionally was a second-round choose, in 2021 by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“The lineage of tight ends who’ve come by means of here’s a huge a part of why I got here to Penn State,” Johnson mentioned. “As quickly as I walked within the door I needed to go away my mark on it. I really feel like I’ve carried out that and I really feel good that I am persevering with the custom.”
Robinson has continued the excellent custom of Penn State defensive linemen. After his efficiency on the Mix, he elevated his probabilities of being a first-round choose after some mock drafts had dropped him into the second spherical.
He was requested if he believed he was ok to be a first-round choose.
“One hundred percent,” Robinson mentioned. “I am a man who exhibits up each single day and offers every part I received. I am according to every part I do. I received the most effective get-off and the most effective bend. You’ll be able to’t educate that. It’s extremely pure to me.
“I do not take note of any mock drafts. I do know what sort of man I’m and the kind of participant I’m. Wherever I find yourself, first, second, third or fourth spherical, it does not matter to me. They’ll get the identical participant no matter the place I am picked.”
