He blew us away at the Senior Bowl with his extraordinary length and size. Not to mention his hand size, combined with all the measurables you look for in a modern day edge player. But for Janarius Robinson, the senior out of Panama City, just getting to this point, he says, is a dream come true.
“I’ve been through some challenging times and some challenging adversity, I just fought through it and I can’t be more happy that I’m reaping the benefits of putting in hard work and playing football all my life,” Robinson told me in a sit down interview.
The former Florida State EDGE Janarius Robinson has faced some tough times in his life, but that hasn’t stopped him from being a fighter not only in the trenches, but in life, as well. And on the cusp of having an NFL future, he continued to stay grounded, not allowing his circumstances to prevent him from being successful.
Living his Football Dream
The six foot-five inch, 266 pound specimen started football at a young age, playing in a city league youth football league in Panama City, where he was born and raised. He recalls starting playing the game of football at five or six years old at a variety of positions, including tight end, and defensive end to name a few.
But he had to stop playing for a few years once he reached the varsity league of the youth football league, due to the lack of players.
“Going into middle school, I didn’t play at all until my eighth grade year, my math teacher, Mr. Moore, he was my math teacher but also the football coach,” Robinson recalled.
“He asked why I wasn’t playing football, and I explained it to him, my mom wanted me to focus on grades, not that grades ever been a problem, but my momma wanted me to focus on grades, and eventually go to college and do something that no one had ever done in my family.”
He says Moore called his mom everyday until she allowed him to try out for the eighth grade football team, as long as he kept his grades up, and he did. As hard as the time away was for Robinson, he says his mom helped instill his Christian values from an young age, showing him that “God puts you in tough situations to put you in position for things for a reason.”
High School Breakout
For those who aren’t familiar with Robinson in high school, he quickly popped on college radars and became a highly coveted four star recruit while playing for Bay High School in Panama City. During his time playing for the Tornadoes, he would pick up his first ever offer March 2014 from Tennessee. And by the end of May 2014, he had double-digit offers.
Robinson would also secure an invite to The Opening in 2015, at Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, where he would prove to be one of the most athletic defensive end participants. Even as a high school player, some of the same traits that make him a special player now, like his explosiveness and playing with pop behind his pads, still rang true.
Over his high school career, Robinson would amass 98 total tackles (69 solo), eight sacks, four forced fumbles, a pair of blocked field goals, and a fumble recovery in three years at the varsity level. In his senior year, Robinson totaled seven sacks, and led Bay High School to the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
When it came time to commit to a college, Robinson says he knew where he wanted to be all along — in Tallahassee, Florida, playing in the garnet and gold.
“Ever since I was a little child, growing up in Panama City, Florida, not too far away from Tallahassee, I always dreamed of playing at Doak Campbell [Stadium] and that was just a dream of mine since I was little,” Robinson explained.
“Me, my mom, and my family and god daddy sat down and we decided that God made it possible for that dream to come true…I can’t pass it up, why not take it.”
Robinson would commit to the Seminoles over Florida, Auburn and Alabama among several other offers, during his senior season. He would cap off his senior year with an invite to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January of 2016, as well as enrolling early for the Seminoles. He joined a signing class at Florida State that included two first round picks: Carolina Panthers Defensive End Brian Burns and San Francisco 49ers Defensive End Nick Bosa.
He was far from a finished product, and would face some adversity — in his football program, and in his personal life.
Overcoming Adversity
We know the tumultuous turn the Florida State program saw after the departure of Jimbo Fisher prior to the 2017 regular season finale against University of Louisiana-Monroe. It was Robinson’s redshirt freshman season, a year where he saw some playing time, appearing in eight games, recorded three tackles and one sack.
Willie Taggart would take over shortly after, and only last a total of 21 games coaching for the Seminoles, after being fired in November of 2019. Mike Norvell would be hired away from Memphis, to help turn this program around after two two straight losing seasons.
While all of that was unfolding within the program, Robinson faced his own personal adversity during the 2018 season. Hurricane Michael, one of the strongest Hurricanes to hit the United States, would destroy Robinson and his family’s home in Panama City, a house he grew up in. He recalls the situation being stressful, and describes being worried about his mother during that time.
“[I remember’] watching my mom have to be homeless and stay with different people, throughout two years,” Robinson recalled.
But their family would receive strong support from their community and rebuild, thanks to the acts of kindness of more than 2,000 people who collectively donated more than $141,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to help with the construction of a new home. And in that tulmultous time, Robinson continued to fight on the football field, bursting on the scene in the 2018 season as a key contributor for the Seminoles defense.
In the game following the Hurricane, Robinson played one of the best games in his career against Wake Forest, registered career-high six tackles, with 1.0 sack, and one quarterback. That effort would lead to Robinson being recognized with the Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award.
Fast forward to December 2020, more than two years after the Hurricane Michael destoryed their home, Janarius Robinson shared on social media that their new home, that had been under construction since 2019, was finally completed. Robinson said it was a “blessing” that his mom had a place she could call home again.
“It’s just been a blessing for us to be back on our feet, and for my mom to have a house that she can lay her head at and for her to call her home.”
UPDATE: Hello everyone just want to let you all know that the house is finally finished a story is coming soon. Me and my family really appreciates everyone who prayed, contributed, helped us and most importantly want to thank the Seminole FAMILY 🖤 #HurricaneMichael pic.twitter.com/AOXicu8hMA
— J Rob (@JanariusD1) December 4, 2020
His athletic profile alone draws people in, but how hard he plays on a down to down basis is what will attract teams to Robinson. As mentioned above, Janarius Robinson blew people away with his 11 inch hands, along with a wingspan of 7’3″ inches. He finished his career with the Seminoles amassing 104 total tackles,20.5 tackles for loss, and eight career sacks.
When I dug into his tape shortly before the Senior Bowl, his length is what stood out, along with how fast he closes in on runners and quarterbacks off the edge.
I asked him about how he uses his length to win against offensive lineman, and the traits he possesses that would translate to the next level.
“I’m versatile with the body type I got, where I can use a variety of different moves, right now I’m focused on developing those type of moves, different types of moves better, so I can use them to my ability, like I said, using my size, strength, speed and athleticism to my advantage against different opponents.”
-Janarius Robinson, Florida State EDGE
His tape has flashes all over, and probably had his best performance against North Carolina this season in their upset win. He finished the game with a season-high five tackles, including 2.5 for loss with one sack.
Watch how he closes below on this outside zone play. He uses his hands, disengages and rocks North Carolina running back Javonte Williams in the backfield. He plays violently, displays quickness off the edge and shows great leverage in defending the run.
After seeing #FSU OLB Janarius Robinson get a @seniorbowl invite, I decided to check out his film.
I was not disappointed, 6’6”, 260 pounds, plays violent, showed some really nice flashes. He does a nice job swiping down the hands of the UNC OT, and rocks Javonte Williams. pic.twitter.com/ySdclOB6Gg
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 16, 2021
That wasn’t the only rep where he absolutely crushes a running back. Against Boston College, he once again closes off the edge and shows serious pop with his pads. Just impressive flashes from the three year starter for Florida State.
Robinson also told me during the interview something he has been working to improve during his training for not only the Senior Bowl, but also for his impending pro day, is his hand usage.
“Its been [about] being more fundamentally sound and learning how to use my hands, getting off the rock, and using hand placement and different moves that I see myself using, that I can have on Saturday’s against opponents or Sunday’s,” Robinson explained.
And it seems like he has taken the opportunity to do so down in Mobile. Here is a great rep against Alex Leatherwood, where he uses his arm length and strength to win with a one armed bull rush.
What a great rep here by #FSU EDGE Janarius Robinson. Walks back Leatherwood with a bull rush and forces the pocket to collapse. Uses that length to his advantage. pic.twitter.com/qZhj3sFaeK
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 27, 2021
The Panama City native shows great pass rush promise as well, whether it’s the speed rush, bull rush, hand swipe leading to dip and rips, as well as converting speed to power. A few plays against Notre Dame this season showed he how he was able to utilize a bevy of moves to get after the quarterback.
He has some nice pass rushing reps. Only three sacks on the season, but uses his hands well and knows how to get skinny. First play, swipes the hands violently, doesn’t get a sack but forces Ian Book to leave the pocket.
Second play, hits Book as he throws. I’m intrigued pic.twitter.com/MzL3ZZV5fw
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 16, 2021
When I asked Robinson who were his toughest offensive lineman he went against in his career, he said Mekhi Becton, the current New York Jets left tackle, as well as both of Notre Dame’s tackles from this year, Liam Eichenberg, and Robert Hainsey, who is also competing in Mobile.
So far, he has impressed down in Mobile, beyond his measurements. As he continues to make plays over the week, I expect teams to not only walk away excited about his athletic ability, but his character as well.
The thing that impressed me most about Janarius Robinson is how grounded and humble he is. During the interview, this soundbite of how he wants to provide for his family and become the breadwinner of the household blew me away. It’s more than chasing his dream, he is striving to set his family up for future success. Not to mention becoming the first in his family to graduate college in the Winter of 2019.
Watching my momma struggle, and go without, to see me have, to do certain things to make ends meet, work two jobs and do certain things to make sure I had stuff, that’s something that is my why, watching my mom struggle as a kid…I just want to be able to put my mom in position and give her the finer things she deserve, with as much sacrifice she did and went through.”
– Janarius Robinson, Florida State EDGE
He’s a player you want in the locker room, someone who has endured struggle in his life. If you don’t know the name yet, you’ll hear it come April. Robinson has a bright future, and I fully expect him to find success at the next level, whether it be as a 5 technique in a 3-4 defense or an outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme.