Kenny Robinson (American football)

Kenneth Robinson Jr. (born January 8, 1999) is an American football safety for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at West Virginia, and previously played for the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL.

Kenny Robinson
No. 27 – Carolina Panthers
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1999-01-08) January 8, 1999
Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Imani Christian Academy
(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
College:West Virginia
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 5 / Pick: 152
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2020
Total tackles:1
Pass deflections:0
Interceptions:0
Forced fumbles:0
Fumble recoveries:0
Player stats at NFL.com

High school career

Robinson grew up in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania and began his high school career as a freshman at Central Catholic before transferring to University Prep. His junior season was derailed by a leg injury. After the season, Robinson transferred to Imani Christian Academy for his senior year. He was named PIAA all-state 1A first team, as a defensive back.[1] Robinson committed to West Virginia after fielding offers from Virginia Tech, Iowa State, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.[2]

College career

Robinson mainly played safety for the West Virginia Mountaineers after playing cornerback for several games as a freshman. He returned an interception 94 yards for a touchdown against Texas as a freshman and made the game-saving pick versus Kansas State.[2] Robinson had 123 tackles and 7 interceptions, 2 of which were returned for a defensive touchdown, in his two-year college career.[3][4] He was named to the First Team All-Big 12 after his sophomore season. Robinson was expelled from West Virginia after a student code of conduct violation involving academic fraud. He initially entered the transfer portal in June 2019 because his mother wanted him to remain in school.[5] However, it became difficult because West Virginia refused to release his transcripts and tried to charge him $3000.[6] Instead, he decided to join the XFL and has been called a "trailblazer."[7]

Defense & FumblesTackDefFumb
YearSchoolConfClassPosGSoloAstTotLossSkIntYdsAvgTDPDFRYdsTDFF
*2017West VirginiaBig 12FRS113214462.00.0317056.72300
*2018West VirginiaBig 12SOS125225772.00.045814.50411
CareerWest Virginia84391234.00.0722832.62711

Professional career

St. Louis BattleHawks

In October 2019, Robinson was drafted by the St. Louis BattleHawks via the 2020 XFL Draft. He was picked up in the 5th round (39th overall) of Phase 4: Defensive Backs.[8] Robinson was the only player in the XFL who was eligible for the 2020 NFL Draft, and the XFL paid for him to take college classes online.[9][10] He said he chose the XFL to help his mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer. In Week 3 of the season, he had an interception, and in Week 5 he was nominated for the XFL's Star of the Week with one interception and a sack.[5] In the coronavirus-shortened XFL season, Robinson started all five games for the BattleHawks and had 21 tackles and two interceptions.[11] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[12]

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers selected Robinson with the 152nd pick in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, making him the first XFL player to be drafted into the NFL.[13] He was waived on September 6, 2020, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[14][15] Robinson was promoted to the active roster on October 20, 2020.[16]

References
  1. Bell, Nate (October 18, 2019). "Kenny Robinson Jr. Takes XFL Route to Reach NFL". Pittsburgh Sports Now. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  2. Taylor, Allan (February 15, 2020). "After sprinkling of big plays, Kenny Robinson aims to become reliable". West Virginia Metro News. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  3. "Kenny Robinson". www.sports-reference.com. February 15, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  4. Callihan, Schuyler (January 21, 2020). "BREAKING: Kenny Robinson Eligible for 2020 NFL Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  5. Heck, Jordan (March 14, 2020). "Kenny Robinson turned to the XFL to help his mom. Now he's eyeing the NFL Draft". Sporting News. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  6. Dodd, Dennis (March 2, 2020). "XFL 2020: BattleHawks' Kenny Robinson, first in league with college eligibility remaining, on uncharted path". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  7. Bumbaca, Chris (February 9, 2020). "Different roads to the XFL: How the new league has helped resurrect some dreams, and keep others alive". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  8. Bender, Bill (October 21, 2019). "XFL Draft picks 2019: Complete results, rosters, players for new football league". Sporting News. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  9. Werner, Barry (February 15, 2020). "Why St. Louis' Kenny Robinson is the most intriguing player in the XFL". Touchdown Wire. USA Today. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  10. Staples, Andy (February 15, 2020). "Why Kenny Robinson Jr. is the XFL's first test case for NFL Draft hopefuls". The Athletic. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  11. Everett, Brad (March 27, 2020). "Wilkinsburg's Kenny Robinson eyes lifelong dream of reaching the NFL". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  12. Condotta, Bob (April 10, 2020). "XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue". SeattleTimes.com. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  13. Simmons, Myles (April 25, 2020). "Panthers select S Kenny Robinson in fifth round". Panthers.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  14. Simmons, Myles (September 6, 2020). "Panthers claim three players off waivers". Panthers.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  15. Simmons, Myles (September 7, 2020). "Panthers re-sign Efe Obada, place Eli Apple on reserve/injured". Panthers.com. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  16. Simmons, Myles (October 20, 2020). "Panthers place Juston Burris, Keith Kirkwood on reserve/injured list". Panthers.com. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
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