Player Spotlight: Penn State Edge Rusher Chop Robinson
Penn State has consistently produced high-caliber pass rushers in recent NFL drafts. Chop Robinson has all of the ability and talent to become the next great edge defender for the Nittany Lions. NFL franchises are going to fall in love with his explosive burst and excellent first step.
Despite being a five-star recruit, Robinson’s choice to play at Maryland surprised many, but his tenure there was brief. Following his freshman year, he made the decision to transfer and joined the Penn State football program. In his sophomore year, despite coming off the bench, Robinson managed an impressive performance, accumulating 10.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, according to Sports Reference.
Here is my scouting report for Penn State’s Chop Robinson.
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 255 pounds
40-Yard Dash: 4.60 seconds
Strengths
Chop Robinson is a fantastic athlete. He has great explosion and flexibility in his lower body that allows him to plant his foot and turn on a dime. Robinson also possesses an elite get-off off of the line of scrimmage that allows him to consistently beat tackles outside.
This initial burst enables him to threaten the edge rapidly or convert his explosive speed to power and bullrush tackles backward. Robinson is a constant threat to cut inside if the tackle tries to jump the snap and beat him to the corner.
Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson is one of the best pass-rushing prospects in the 2024 NFL draft.
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) August 21, 2023
No. 2 pass-rush grade in the nation last year @PFF_College.
Big question is handling the point of attack in the run game.
Reminds of Carl Lawson pic.twitter.com/uqJkXRIq01
He has all of the tools that NFL scouts look for in a premier rusher. There is nothing athletically that Robinson cannot do at the edge position. He checks all of the boxes physically that teams covet on the edge.
Weaknesses
While Robinson boasts impressive range and an unwavering motor in the run game, his run defense leaves room for improvement. He isn’t the strongest player at the point of attack, which causes him to occasionally concede outside running plays on his side of the field.
Although he demonstrated his prowess as a pass-rush specialist during his sophomore year, his development in effectively countering the run will be pivotal in his transition to becoming a reliable every-down starter in the NFL.
Robinson could also benefit from adding a few more pass-rush moves to his arsenal. He tries too often to win with his get-off and speed, which top-tier tackles can anticipate. He needs to become better with his hands if he wants to become an elite pass rusher at the next level.
2024 NFL Draft Outlook
Overall, Chop Robinson reminds me a lot of former Nebraska pass rusher and current Denver Bronco, Randy Gregory. They both have rare speed and flexibility to change a game in an instant. If Chop can build off of his excellent sophomore season, he will be a lock as a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. However, he does need to prove that he can be more stout at the point of attack as a run defender this year. Regardless, Chop Robinson is one of the most feared defensive players in college football.
