Nate Robinson (American football)

Last updated

Nate Robinson
Personal information
Born: (1985-01-18) January 18, 1985 (age 39)
Irvington, New Jersey
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:320 lb (145 kg)
Career information
High school: Irvington (NJ)
College: Akron
Position: Defensive tackle
Undrafted: 2008
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Nathaniel Robinson (born January 18, 1985) is a former American football defensive tackle. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2008. Once a heralded high school athlete, Robinson was an underachiever during his college football career at Rutgers and Akron. [1]

Contents

High school career

A native of Irvington, New Jersey, Robinson attended Irvington High School, a school that struggled with gang-related violence. [2] As a junior in 2001, he recorded 82 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss, as well as 14 quarterback sacks, nine pass deflections and six caused fumbles. He missed most of his senior season due to a knee injury, but was still rated one of the best defensive lineman in the nation. In fact, Rivals.com gave Robinson their only five-star rating among defensive tackles, and ranked him No. 1 in a class that also included Sedrick Ellis, Marcus Thomas, and Fili Moala. [3]

After official visits to Rutgers, Syracuse, and Miami (FL), Robinson committed to the Hurricanes, together with the only other five-star recruit from New Jersey, Greg Olsen of Wayne Hills. [4] Unlike Olsen, however, Robinson was unable to meet the school's academic qualification standards. [5] Although Robinson's SAT score of 800 met the NCAA minimum for high school students with a 3.0 grade point average, it was 20 points shy of Miami's institutional standard. [6] [7] With the perspective of being declared ineligible, Robinson decided to not enroll at Miami, and instead went to Rutgers. [8] [9] He was the only four- or five-star recruit in Rutgers' class. [10] [11]

College career

The injury from his high school senior year also caused Robinson to miss the first half of his true freshman year at Rutgers. He only saw action in the final six games of the season, and recorded a total of three tackles and a single quarterback sack—coincidentally against the Miami Hurricanes. In his sophomore year, Robinson played in eight of 11 games, including the final six contests, finishing the season with 15 tackles, including five solo stops. In April 2005, he was dismissed for violation of team policy, and eventually transferred to Akron. [12]

After sitting out the 2005 season while fulfilling NCAA transfer requirements, Robinson played 11 of 12 games for the Akron Zips in 2006. He had 23 tackles, including six for losses with a sack. In his senior year, he was moved in and out of the lineup, registering 26 tackles, including five for a loss, for the season.

Professional career

2008 NFL Draft

After a disappointing college career, Robinson was projected to go undrafted in the 2008 NFL draft. [13] After doing so, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Giants. [14] [15]

New York Sentinels

Robinson was signed by the New York Sentinels of the United Football League on September 9, 2009. [16] He was released before the season began.

Toronto Argonauts

On April 4, 2011, Robinson signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. [17] He was released by the Argonauts on June 15, 2011.

Personal

On December 26, 2013, Robinson was arrested on gun and drug charges in Newark, New Jersey. [18]

Related Research Articles

Russell James Maryland is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 10 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. Maryland was selected by the Cowboys with the first overall pick in the 1991 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Schiano</span> American football coach (born 1966)

Gregory Edward Schiano is an American football coach. He is the head football coach at Rutgers University, a position he held from 2001 to 2011 and resumed before the 2020 season. Schiano has the most wins in program history as head football coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team. He also served as the head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL) from 2012 to 2013.

James P. Burt is an American former professional football player who was a nose tackle for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Burt was a member of the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXI and the 49ers team that won Super Bowl XXIV. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Pata</span> American football player (1984–2006)

Bryan Sidney Pata was an American football defensive lineman for the Miami Hurricanes and was majoring in criminology. After leaving a football practice during his fourth year at the school, Pata was murdered, a crime unsolved for 15 years, but eventually discovered to have possibly been committed by a Miami teammate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micah Johnson (gridiron football)</span> American gridiron football player (born 1988)

Micah Johnson is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats. He has also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Calgary Stampeders, BC Lions, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marvin Austin</span> American football player (born 1989)

Marvin Austin Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a nose tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels and was selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. Austin also played for the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.

David Lofton is a former American football safety. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Stanford.

Ryan Neill is a former American football defensive end and long snapper. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and played college football at Rutgers. In the NFL, Neill also played for the St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers.

Pedro Sosa is a former American football offensive tackle for the Hartford Colonials of the defunct United Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Rutgers.

Brian P. Toal is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Las Vegas Locomotives in the UFL premiere season draft in 2009. He played college football at Boston College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamaal Westerman</span> American football player (born 1985)

Jamaal Akeem Westerman is an American former professional football player who was a defensive lineman who is currently a college football coach for Rutgers. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was named to the Second–team All–Big East team two times. Westerman played high school football in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at St. Thomas Aquinas High School before moving to Brampton, Ontario and attending Notre Dame Secondary School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Davis (offensive tackle, born 1989)</span> American football player (born 1989)

Anthony Nathaniel Davis is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and was selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft.

Alphonso Blades was an American professional football safety who went to the University of Miami. He was selected as a first-team All-Big East player at Miami. He spent two years with the San Francisco 49ers. In March 2003, he was the passenger of former Plantation High School teammate Martel Johnson who was driving Blades' 1999 Mazda Millenia when it hit another car which they were racing. Both died in the crash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Trattou</span> American football player (born 1988)

Justin Trattou is a former American football defensive end. He played college football for the University of Florida. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He later played with the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, retiring from the NFL in 2018. He was part of championship teams at all three levels of his career in football.

Darius Hamilton is a former American football defensive end. He attended Rutgers University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ereck Flowers</span> American football player (born 1994)

Ereck Flowers is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and was selected ninth overall by the New York Giants in the 2015 NFL draft. He has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins / Football Team, and Miami Dolphins. Flowers played offensive tackle at the University of Miami and in the early part of his NFL career prior to switching to guard in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martez Ivey</span> American gridiron football player (born 1995)

Martez Ivey is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Florida. Ivey has also been a member of the New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Vipers, Carolina Panthers, and Toronto Argonauts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Feliciano</span> American football player (born 1992)

Jon Feliciano is an American professional football guard for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DaShaun Amos</span> American gridiron football player (born 1994)

DaShaun Amos is an American professional football defensive back for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Hinton (American football)</span> American football player (born 2000)

Christopher Hinton Jr. is an American professional football nose tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines.

References

  1. Mike Farrell and Mark Pszonak Rivals.com (February 29, 2016). "Rivals.com - Judge Farrell: DT 2002 - 2004". N.rivals.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  2. Cave, Damien (August 27, 2004). "Crips, Bloods and a Town in the Crossfire; Newark's Smaller Neighbor Is New Jersey's Crime Capital". New York Times.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Rivals.com New Jersey Top 25
  5. "Hurricanes Lose Top Defensive Recruit". Orlando Sentinel. August 1, 2003.
  6. "Lineman will go to Rutgers, not Miami". Philadelphia Inquirer. August 1, 2003. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013.
  7. "Shoulder Surgery Sidelines Square". Sun-Sentinel. August 1, 2003. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013.
  8. "Class of 2003 lineman headed to Rutgers". ESPN. July 31, 2003.
  9. "Prep Lineman Picks Rutgers Over Miami". New York Times. August 1, 2003.
  10. "A Knight's tale: Once Miami bound, No. 1 prospect content to be at Rutgers". Sports Illustrated. August 22, 2003. Archived from the original on October 5, 2003.
  11. "Rutgers finds the stars don't always align in football recruiting". Star-Ledger. December 4, 2013.
  12. "Article: Rutgers dismisses Nate Robinson".
  13. "SI Grade". CNN. Archived from the original on April 18, 2008.
  14. "Irvington grad Nate Robinson headed to Giants". Star-Ledger. April 28, 2008.
  15. "Giants ink former Rutgers product". New York Daily News. May 12, 2008.
  16. "United Football League's New York Sentinels Add 16 to Roster". UFL-football.com. September 9, 2009. Archived from the original on December 10, 2009.
  17. "Toronto Argonauts". Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  18. "Former Giants, Rutgers player Nate Robinson arrested on gun, weapons charges". Star-Ledger. December 27, 2013.