Robinson’s College Football Journey Makes Final Stop at K-State
Feb 16, 2022 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
The college football scrapbook for Shawn Robinson added another page in early February. That's when Kansas State formally announced that the former TCU quarterback and former Missouri safety transferred to Manhattan to play his sixth and final season, adding another twist to an already rare gridiron journey.
"I just love being a part of a team," Robinson said in his first public appearance at Vanier Family Football Complex. "I'm excited to come in here, work with these guys, and win as a team. This is my last go around, so go out with a bang."
The 6-foot-1, 223-pound Robinson is expected to play at safety for the Wildcats when they begin spring workouts on March 8.
His trek to this point is rather remarkable.
Robinson was one of the nation's top quarterback prospects and 2016-17 Gatorade Texas Player of the Year who led DeSoto High School to a 16-0 record and its first state championship in 2016. He chose TCU over scholarship offers from Alabama, LSU, Texas and Baylor.
After seeing sparse action as a freshman at TCU in 2017 (he rushed 4 times for 11 yards against K-State but did not attempt a pass), Robinson was more involved in the Horned Frogs' offense in 2018. He passed for 1,334 yards and 9 touchdowns with 8 interceptions and rushed for 230 yards and 3 touchdowns while starting in seven games. In his third career start, Robinson completed 24 of 40 passes for 308 yards and 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions in a 40-28 loss to No. 4 Ohio State. An injury to Robinson's non-throwing shoulder caused him to miss the final five games.
After the season, Robinson opted to transfer to Missouri. He sat out the 2019 season due to NCAA transfer rules and began the 2020 season as starting quarterback. Although Robinson threw for 185 yards and one touchdown in the second game of the season against Alabama, he was replaced by redshirt freshman Connor Bazelak in the loss. Then-first-year Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz stuck with Bazelak the remainder of the season, and Drinkwitz suggested that season for Robinson to switch to safety — a position Robinson hadn't played at since the eighth grade, the last time he played defense.
Drinkwitz appeared pleased with Robinson's progress at his new position.
"I've been blown away by what he's been able to do and how quickly he's been able to do it," Drinkwitz told reporters. "He's playing a lot of football for us, playing a lot of different positions, doing a lot of things and still making a lot of plays with effort, technique and toughness."
Robinson recorded 5 tackles, 2 solo tackles 0.5 tackles for a loss, 1 pass break-up, and 1 interception against Mississippi State in his only action as a defensive back in 2020. Last season, Robinson had 31 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss, with 1 sack, 1 pass break-up and 1 interception. He played in 8 games and started against Tennessee. He suffered an injury during the season but returned to play in a 24-22 loss to Army in the 2021 Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas. Missouri finished with a 6-7 record.
Less than 50 days later, Robinson, a graduate transfer who is taking advantage of his sixth season due to the COVID pandemic, stood inside the Vanier Family Football Complex putting his career into words for reporters.
"It's been a beautiful journey, a lot of ups and downs, and a lot of things I needed to learn, but I wouldn't change a thing," Robinson said. "I wouldn't substitute any of the adversity I went through. Everything happens for a reason. I'm blessed to be here today."
Exactly how did Robinson connect with K-State?
"Coach (Joe) Klanderman, Coach (Van) Malone, Coach (Buddy) Wyatt I know had been back and forth and visiting with him quite a bit," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "Then I had a chance to Zoom a lot with him and his dad. I know that Van and Buddy knew a lot of people down in Texas that knew him real well and followed him there and said he was the right kind of guy that would help our program.
"I know he started out at quarterback. He played a game here against K-State at QB, then they moved him to defense. So, he's got that savviness of understanding the defensive side from being a quarterback and it's an older guy, but it's a bigger guy and we're going to start him out at safety. He's played some safety and played some linebacker. We're going to start him out at safety."
It's expected that Robinson will be in the mix for playing time at K-State following the departure of a few safeties, including seniors Jahron McPherson, Ross Elder and Reggie Stubblefield.
"I'm definitely happy that I played quarterback because there's some knowledge that I can take over to the defensive back position," Robinson said. "The biggest thing for me is just adjusting physically and getting used to the running. As far as the mental side, playing quarterback prepared me pretty well.
"I love the versatility at the safety position. They play three high safeties, so I really like the idea of being anywhere on the field. Wherever I can contribute, I'm ready to go."
Asked if he was still learning the ins and outs of playing defense, Robinson replied, "Every day I'm learning. A wise man once told me, 'You've got to stay green, like a plant, and you should always be learning. Once you feel like you're to a point where you stop learning, that's when you start to rot.'"
Robinson is hardly rotting. He's eager for a fresh start.
He'll also play a couple familiar schools in his final season.
K-State hosts Missouri on September 10 and visits TCU on October 22.
The college football scrapbook for Shawn Robinson added another page in early February. That's when Kansas State formally announced that the former TCU quarterback and former Missouri safety transferred to Manhattan to play his sixth and final season, adding another twist to an already rare gridiron journey.
"I just love being a part of a team," Robinson said in his first public appearance at Vanier Family Football Complex. "I'm excited to come in here, work with these guys, and win as a team. This is my last go around, so go out with a bang."
The 6-foot-1, 223-pound Robinson is expected to play at safety for the Wildcats when they begin spring workouts on March 8.
His trek to this point is rather remarkable.
Robinson was one of the nation's top quarterback prospects and 2016-17 Gatorade Texas Player of the Year who led DeSoto High School to a 16-0 record and its first state championship in 2016. He chose TCU over scholarship offers from Alabama, LSU, Texas and Baylor.
After seeing sparse action as a freshman at TCU in 2017 (he rushed 4 times for 11 yards against K-State but did not attempt a pass), Robinson was more involved in the Horned Frogs' offense in 2018. He passed for 1,334 yards and 9 touchdowns with 8 interceptions and rushed for 230 yards and 3 touchdowns while starting in seven games. In his third career start, Robinson completed 24 of 40 passes for 308 yards and 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions in a 40-28 loss to No. 4 Ohio State. An injury to Robinson's non-throwing shoulder caused him to miss the final five games.
After the season, Robinson opted to transfer to Missouri. He sat out the 2019 season due to NCAA transfer rules and began the 2020 season as starting quarterback. Although Robinson threw for 185 yards and one touchdown in the second game of the season against Alabama, he was replaced by redshirt freshman Connor Bazelak in the loss. Then-first-year Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz stuck with Bazelak the remainder of the season, and Drinkwitz suggested that season for Robinson to switch to safety — a position Robinson hadn't played at since the eighth grade, the last time he played defense.
Drinkwitz appeared pleased with Robinson's progress at his new position.
"I've been blown away by what he's been able to do and how quickly he's been able to do it," Drinkwitz told reporters. "He's playing a lot of football for us, playing a lot of different positions, doing a lot of things and still making a lot of plays with effort, technique and toughness."
Robinson recorded 5 tackles, 2 solo tackles 0.5 tackles for a loss, 1 pass break-up, and 1 interception against Mississippi State in his only action as a defensive back in 2020. Last season, Robinson had 31 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss, with 1 sack, 1 pass break-up and 1 interception. He played in 8 games and started against Tennessee. He suffered an injury during the season but returned to play in a 24-22 loss to Army in the 2021 Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas. Missouri finished with a 6-7 record.
Less than 50 days later, Robinson, a graduate transfer who is taking advantage of his sixth season due to the COVID pandemic, stood inside the Vanier Family Football Complex putting his career into words for reporters.
"It's been a beautiful journey, a lot of ups and downs, and a lot of things I needed to learn, but I wouldn't change a thing," Robinson said. "I wouldn't substitute any of the adversity I went through. Everything happens for a reason. I'm blessed to be here today."
Exactly how did Robinson connect with K-State?
"Coach (Joe) Klanderman, Coach (Van) Malone, Coach (Buddy) Wyatt I know had been back and forth and visiting with him quite a bit," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "Then I had a chance to Zoom a lot with him and his dad. I know that Van and Buddy knew a lot of people down in Texas that knew him real well and followed him there and said he was the right kind of guy that would help our program.
"I know he started out at quarterback. He played a game here against K-State at QB, then they moved him to defense. So, he's got that savviness of understanding the defensive side from being a quarterback and it's an older guy, but it's a bigger guy and we're going to start him out at safety. He's played some safety and played some linebacker. We're going to start him out at safety."
It's expected that Robinson will be in the mix for playing time at K-State following the departure of a few safeties, including seniors Jahron McPherson, Ross Elder and Reggie Stubblefield.
"I'm definitely happy that I played quarterback because there's some knowledge that I can take over to the defensive back position," Robinson said. "The biggest thing for me is just adjusting physically and getting used to the running. As far as the mental side, playing quarterback prepared me pretty well.
"I love the versatility at the safety position. They play three high safeties, so I really like the idea of being anywhere on the field. Wherever I can contribute, I'm ready to go."
Asked if he was still learning the ins and outs of playing defense, Robinson replied, "Every day I'm learning. A wise man once told me, 'You've got to stay green, like a plant, and you should always be learning. Once you feel like you're to a point where you stop learning, that's when you start to rot.'"
Robinson is hardly rotting. He's eager for a fresh start.
He'll also play a couple familiar schools in his final season.
K-State hosts Missouri on September 10 and visits TCU on October 22.
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