FAB 3. ROBINETTE IS A REAL SHRINE SLEEPER
If the Buccaneers are looking for a big receiver (which they are) that can make big plays (which they are) and boost the team’s yards per catch average (which they are), Tampa Bay should look no further than Air Force wide receiver Jalen Robinette. The 6-3, 215-pound receiver hasn’t generated as much media hype and buzz as he should have this week from national writers and draft pundits, but he really impressed me – and the Bucs.

“I did talk to a couple of Bucs scouts at the hotel and we had some great conversations,” Robinette said. “This is a huge opportunity for me and it’s really more special to have my teammate, [safety] Weston Steelhammer out here, too. We’re out here enjoying ourselves and having fun, and I’m trying to transition to an NFL pro-style offense. That’s fun, though – taking on that challenge.”

Air Force TE Jalen Robinette – Photo by: Scott Reynolds/PR

Robinette played in Air Force’s run-happy, option offense and caught 35 passes for a career-high 959 yards and six touchdowns, which was a personal best, in 2016. He has 120 catches for 2,697 yards and 18 touchdowns in his four-year career, which is the same amount of production in two seasons for a receiver at Baylor, Texas Tech, Western Kentucky or Louisiana Tech. But what intrigues NFL scouts and the Buccaneers is his gaudy 27.4 yards per catch average during his senior season and his 22.4 average over his career.

Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter wants more explosive plays from his offense in 2017 and Robinette has proven to be one of college football’s most explosive receivers. Even though he played at a service academy, Robinette believes he has an NFL future and is training hard for the NFL Scouting Combine.

“Right now I’m aiming for 4.46-4.48,” Robinette said. “I’m aiming high so I’ll try hard to put up those numbers.”

Robinette’s speed off the line of scrimmage, and his physicality downfield against smaller cornerbacks, helped him produce his impressive yards per catch average for the Falcons, in addition to instincts.

“It was catching the ball, securing the possession and having the field awareness in regards to where I was at,” Robinette said. “It was having that awareness to – when I catch it – make a move knowing where the defender is. I have that knack of knowing where a defender is. We don’t pass the ball much at Air Force, so when we do you better make the most of it.”

Robinette has studied a few prominent NFL wide receivers that played in an option offense at Georgia Tech as he prepares for a pro career.

“Definitely Calvin Johnson,” Robinette said. “I grew up watching him and DT (Demaryius Thomas), too. I tried to get some of his film when they were back at Georgia Tech and seeing what he did. What they did great at was closing space between he and the defender and going up and getting the high ball. That’s what I did at the Academy.”

Robinette isn’t as physically imposing as either the 6-foot-5, 237-pound Johnson or the 6-foot-3, 233-pound Thomas, but he is a physical player not only when the ball is in the air, but also in the running game. Playing at a school like Air Force that runs the ball four times as much as it throws it sharpened Robinette’s perimeter blocking skills.

“Blocking is definitely one of my strong suits,” Robinette said. “I think that’s attractive to NFL teams, knowing that I’m a complete receiver.”

The West squad used Robinette all over the field during the practice week, lining the Falcons star up out wide and in the slot. That usage wasn’t new to the Bexley, Ohio native.

“I was everywhere on the field – tight, close, out wide,” Robinette said. “I blocked and cracked from different angles, and I ran routes from different angles. When it comes to lining up and surveying the defense, I’m comfortable doing that from anywhere on the field and I think that helps me going to the next level.”

One of the things that Robinette needed to work on during the East-West Shrine practices was facing tight man coverage. Due to his size and yards per catch average, he didn’t face much bump-and-run coverage on the outside in college for fear that he would beat a cornerback off the line of scrimmage and rip off a touchdown of 40 yards or more, which happened 15 times at Air Force. Nine of those touchdowns covered 50 yards and he had three 75 touchdowns during his senior season, the last of which came in the Falcons’ bowl win over South Alabama.

“Definitely getting off press,” Robinette said. “That’s something I didn’t really see too much of in college. I’m able to move, too, so I think they wanted that space to be able to have that recovery. I think that’s why I saw so many people playing off coverage. I think this week has gone pretty well. I was nervous coming into this week with a new offense and competition at a high level, but if anything it was like a nervous excitement.

“Fabian [Moreau] from UCLA – he’s played me tough. He’s a strong guy and plays low on the press, and that gives me some difficulty. The Missouri kid [Aarion Penton] is a bit of talker, but that’s fun. He’s scrappy and plays real low. He’s in your face right off the ball, and that’s what I need to see to transition to the next level.”

Robinette, who also threw three touchdowns at Air Force on trick plays, has relied on his military background to handle the pressure of auditioning in front of NFL scouts and coaches from all 32 teams, including Tampa Bay.

“I’ve just gone out and tried to play fast and absorb everything I can, especially to some of these receivers that have more experience in a passing offense,” Robinette said. “You have to play fast, especially at this level. Everyone’s fast at this level, so I want to play faster. I want to clean up my route running and become more comfortable with the route tree. I want to have fun and keep being professional and representing the Academy.”

When I interviewed Robinette, who was featured in PewterReport.com’s East-West Shrine Preview, I came away very impressed with his demeanor and his attitude, as one would expect talking to a soldier from the Air Force Academy. It reminded me of the way Bucs wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who came from a military family, handles himself.

“I’m going to bring professionalism to an NFL team and something positive in the culture,” Robinette said. “Our culture and the success we had with our brotherhood helped our Academy and our 10-3 season this year. Everyone stood behind each other. Playing at the Academy definitely enhanced me. I came from a strict household. My parents did really well raising me. I was always very busy and I always had my nose in sports, choir and I also had a part-time job. I came to the Academy and everybody comes from different backgrounds. I had a taste of leadership and sports when I came. It definitely enhanced me. I grew up pretty fast, especially with the cultural shock there with the military, but I hit the ground running.

“I’m also a very competitive person. I’m a pusher. I know a lot of people are competitive, but I get really fired up – even at practice – with anything. Any type of competition we had I was always trying to win it. I’m very competitive in that sense. I’m also a very positive person that comes to work every day. I love this game, and having this chance to finally showcase myself in a pro-style offense – it’s a dream come true.”

Air Force WR Jalen Robinette – Photo by: Getty Images

One of the things Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht and his scouts wanted to investigate this week about Robinette is his eligibility to play in the NFL. The military academies typically require at least two years of active duty after graduating, and that has scared off some NFL teams before.

“In the past it’s been pretty difficult,” Robinette said. “It’s been two years active and then you can go into the reserves and being able to play in the NFL after the two years of active service. But since last year with [former Navy quarterback] Keenan Reynolds and [former Air Force tight end] Garrett Griffin, who is with the Saints now, guys can play right away. That’s something that the DOD (Department of Defense) is letting us do, which is wonderful.

“We have a lot of talent in the military that sometimes gets overlooked because of that commitment. It depends when the DOD allows us to defer our service commitment, and it’s done on a case-by-case basis. As far as it being deferred, I think it’s about how long you end up playing in the NFL and it depends on the service, too. Being able to play right away is huge for us.”

The Bucs need a wide receiver that can come in and play right away opposite Pro Bowler Mike Evans, and Robinette wants to be that guy.

“I watched Mike Evans when he was at A&M and also when he went to the Bucs, too,” Robinette said. “I try to watch him when he’s on TV because he’s such a big guy that can make plays downfield. It would be wonderful to be drafted by the Bucs. I spent some time in Tampa before I came down here for the game and it’s wonderful. It’s a wonderful city. Having the chance to play with Jameis Winston and learning from a guy like Mike Evans would be an absolute blessing.”