Greg Robinson shined on a national spotlight during the BCS Championship game, and now he’ll have a chance to do so every Sunday in the NFL.
Shortly after Auburn’s loss to Florida State, Robinson took to Twitter to announce he’s ready to take his skills to the professional ranks, surging to the top of draft boards for teams in search of a franchise left tackle.
If you had never heard of Robinson prior to the BCS Championship, you did after. Robinson’s performance was eye-opening, using his strength and agility to make a key blocks in the run game, including one on Seminoles safety Terrance Brooks that allowed Tre Mason to find the end zone in the first quarter. In pass protection, his quick feet and strong hands kept Nick Marshall safe in the pocket.
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Scouts say that Robinson has enough speed to be a factor as a run-blocker and thrives when blocking in space, and his long arms allow him to pack quite the punch. He’s a physical player. That raw strength and tenacity may not pay dividends in the NFL immediately, but as he becomes more polished and experienced in pass blocking, he could become a very special left tackle.
Robinson is considered the second-best offensive lineman and second-best tackle in this year’s crop behind only Jake Matthews of Texas A&M. Unlike Matthews, however, Robinson is viewed as a pure left tackle and perhaps an even more complete package in terms of that position compared to Matthews. Though Robinson spent only two seasons at Auburn, scouts like the fact that Robinson excelled against SEC competition and led a Tigers rushing attack that averaged more than 328 yards per game.
Overall, most rankings list Robinson somewhere among the top six prospects. And if he isn’t the first offensive tackle taken off the board, he’s sure to the second.
If the St. Louis Rams hold onto the second pick of the draft, the team will likely decide between Robinson and Matthews. If, hypothetically, the Rams stay put and draft Matthews, the Cleveland Browns at No. 4 must decide whether they’re selecting a quarterback in the first round or would want to scoop up Robinson there. Cleveland, though, already has Joe Thomas at left tackle, so would they spend their first pick on a right tackle?
The Atlanta Falcons (No. 6) seem poised to grab an offensive lineman, especially considering owner Arthur Blank suggested the team needed to get tougher in the trenches. But if they opted for Matthews or perhaps moved up for Jadaveon Clowney, the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants with the No. 9 and No. 12 picks, respectively, seem to be ideal landing spots that Robinson.
