 Robinson at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 94 – Carolina Panthers | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive end | ||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1995-03-21)March 21, 1995 (age 30) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 320 lb (145 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school | Fort Worth (TX) Arlington Heights | ||||||||||||||||
| College | Alabama (2013–2015) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2016: 2nd round, 46th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
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A'Shawn Robinson (born March 21, 1995)[1] is an American professionalfootballdefensive end for theCarolina Panthers of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theAlabama Crimson Tide. He was selected by theDetroit Lions in the second round of the2016 NFL draft and has also played in the NFL for theLos Angeles Rams, with whom he wonSuper Bowl LVI.
Robinson was a five-star recruit out of high school, with one service listing him as the nation's top defensive tackle.[2] Robinson played in all 13 of Alabama's games in the 2013 season and started in two games. Robinson was the only true freshman under head coachNick Saban at Alabama to lead the team in sacks.[3] At 320 pounds, Robinson would line-up at both defensive end and tackle for Alabama during his freshman season. In his junior season, he appeared at fullback in goal line situations in games againstLSU andMichigan State in addition to starting on the defensive line.
A native ofFort Worth, Texas, Robinson attendedArlington Heights High School. In addition tofootball, he competed on his high school'svarsity basketball andtrack & field teams.[4] A two-way lineman for the Arlington Heights Yellowjackets football team, Robinson was coached byTodd Whitten in his senior season.[2] After the season, Robinson played for the West squad in theU.S. Army All-American Bowl, and was selected to the2012USA Today All-American Second-team.
Considered a five-star recruit byRivals.com,[5] Robinson was listed as the No. 4 defensive tackle in the nation in 2013.[6][7]ESPN listed him as a four-star recruit and ranked him 105th overall on their "ESPN 300" ranking.[8] Robinson chose to attend Alabama overTexas,Southern California,Louisiana State,Arkansas, andFlorida State. He was originally verbally committed to attend Texas as of February 2012.[9] Just prior toNational Signing Day in February 2013, however, he de-committed from Texas and officially signed with Alabama.[2]
Robinson started practicing with Alabama in August 2013 and played in the first game ofAlabama's 2013 season on August 31, 2013.[10] Robinson andtight end O. J. Howard were Alabama's onlytrue freshmen to have both started a game and played in every game of the 2013 season.[10] Robinson was also the only true freshman under head coach Nick Saban at Alabama to lead the team in sacks.[3]
Robinson led Alabama in sacks and was seventh on the team in tackles.[10] He was named by Alabama's coaches as one of the defensive "players of the week" in three of Alabama's 12 games.[11] No other true freshman was a "player of the week" on offense or defense during the 2013 season.[11] At Alabama's annual awards banquet after the 2013 regular season Robinson was one of four players to receive an "Iron Man Award" given to players who have shown the most dedication to the individual and team goals of the Crimson Tide's year-round strength and conditioning program.[12]
At the end of his first college football season Robinson was the only Alabama freshman named to theSoutheastern Conference (SEC) Coaches' All-Freshman team.[13] Robinson was also on the 2013 Sporting News Freshman All-American team.[14]
| Alabama's pass rushers in 2013 | Sacks | Quarterback hurries (QBH) | Tackles | TFL (ex. sacks) | TFL yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A'Shawn Robinson | 5.5 | 5 | 38 | 2.5 | 40 |
| Denzel Devall | 5 | 3 | 30 | 2.0 | 22 |
| Adrian Hubbard | 3 | 4 | 33 | 2.5 | 27 |
| Trey DePriest | 2 | 0 | 65 | 5.5 | 23 |
| C. J. Mosley | 0 | 10 | 108 | 9.0 | 20 |
Robinson was selected to the 2014 first-team in the pre-season Media Days All-SEC Team.[15] He was held out of some practices in August due to a sprained knee.[16] He led his team in tackles in the 2014 SEC Championship game versus Missouri. It was the first time in his career that he led the team in tackles. He started every game in the 2014 season, during which Alabama led the nation in rushing defense.[17] His teammates gave him the nickname of "Infamous A-Tron," a blend of A'Shawn andMegatron.[17] Robinson earned Honorable Mention on the All-SEC team after the 2014 season.
Robinson started every game for the second season in a row and anchored a deep defensive line that helped Alabama lead college football in rushing yards allowed per game, yards per carry allowed per game, and sacks.[18] Robinson led Alabama in quarterback hurries and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, an award for the nation's best interior lineman (both offensive and defensive).[19] Robinson did not win the Outland Trophy, and the Alabama football team used this snub as motivation in their College Football Playoff game againstMichigan State.[20] After the season, Robinson decided to forgo his senior year and enter the2016 NFL draft.[21]
| Year | School | GP–GS | Tackles | Sacks | Pass Defense | Fumbles | Blocked | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Ast | Total | Loss–Yards | No–Yards | Int–Yards | BU | PD | QBH | Rcv–Yards | FF | Kick | |||
| 2013 | Alabama | 13–2 | 16 | 22 | 38 | 8.0–40 | 5.5–34 | 0–0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0–0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | Alabama | 14–14 | 16 | 33 | 49 | 6.5–11 | 0.0–0 | 0–0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0–0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 | Alabama | 15–15 | 18 | 28 | 46 | 7.5–25 | 3.5–19 | 0–0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 1–9 | 0 | 1 |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft3+5⁄8 in (1.92 m) | 307 lb (139 kg) | 34+1⁄2 in (0.88 m) | 10+1⁄2 in (0.27 m) | 5.20 s | 1.78 s | 3.01 s | 4.74 s | 7.80 s | 26.0 in (0.66 m) | 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) | 22 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[22][23] | ||||||||||||
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Robinson was selected in the second round with the 46th overall pick by theDetroit Lions in the 2016 NFL Draft.[24] On May 10, 2016, Robinson signed with theDetroit Lions.[25] He recorded his first career sack againstPhiladelphia Eagles quarterbackCarson Wentz in Week 5.[26] In Week 16 of the 2016 season, against theDallas Cowboys, Robinson drew anunnecessary roughness penalty for tackling running backEzekiel Elliott too hard. The motion Robinson used on the tackle made it look like he was picking up Elliot and slamming him down, but the announcers agreed that the hit looked clean.[27][28][29] He finished his rookie season leading all defensive tackles in the NFL in pass deflections with seven.
During Week 6 of the 2017 NFL season, Robinson recorded his first career interception offDrew Brees and returned it two yards for a touchdown.[30] However, the Lions still lost to theNew Orleans Saints by a score of 52–38. In Week 9, he blocked aMason Crosby field goal to help the Lions beat theGreen Bay Packers atLambeau Field by a score of 30–17.[31]
In the 2018 season, Robinson played in 13 games with seven starts, recording 49 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.[32] He was placed oninjured reserve on December 28, 2018.[33]
In the 2019 season, Robinson played in 13 games with nine starts, recording 40 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.[34]
On April 24, 2020, theLos Angeles Rams signed Robinson to a two-year contract.[35] He was placed on the active/non-football injury list at the start of training camp on August 8, 2020.[36] He was placed on reserve/non-football injury to start the season.[37] He was activated on October 30, 2020.[38] He appeared in eight games in the 2020 season.[39]
In the 2021 season, Robinson recorded two sacks, 67 total tackles, and two forced fumbles in 17 games.[40] Robinson helped the Rams winSuper Bowl LVI by defeating theCincinnati Bengals 23–20. In the Super Bowl, Robinson recorded six tackles and one sack and was instrumental in shutting down the Bengals running game.[41]
On November 26, 2022, Robinson was placed on injured reserve with atorn meniscus.[42] He finished the 2022 season with 42 total tackles in ten games.[43]
On April 24, 2023, Robinson signed a one-year, $8 million deal with theNew York Giants.[44] In the 2023 season, Robinson finished with 62 total tackles and two passes defended in 17 games.[45]
On March 13, 2024, Robinson signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract with theCarolina Panthers.[46]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | TD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | ||
| 2016 | DET | 16 | 5 | 30 | 22 | 8 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2017 | DET | 16 | 16 | 53 | 32 | 21 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 2018 | DET | 13 | 7 | 49 | 34 | 15 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | DET | 13 | 9 | 40 | 32 | 8 | 1.5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2020 | LAR | 8 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | LAR | 17 | 14 | 67 | 33 | 34 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | LAR | 10 | 10 | 42 | 22 | 20 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | NYG | 17 | 13 | 62 | 34 | 28 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Career | 110 | 74 | 355 | 215 | 140 | 7.0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 19 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | TD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | ||
| 2016 | DET | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | LAR | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | LAR | 4 | 4 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 7 | 5 | 35 | 18 | 17 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Due to his physical appearance, Robinson is often questioned of his actual age. Having started playing football at the age of 4,[47] his mother stated that she would bring his birth certificate to games, due to opposing coaches challenging his age for eligibility.[48] "I couldn't play because I was too big and they had to see my birth certificate," said Robinson.[49] This would continue into his adult years; he shared that he was often mistaken for a 35-year-old coach when he was actually a 20-year-old student athlete.[50]
