Film Room: Brian Robinson

Kentucky has taken their time building recruiting momentum in the 2024 cycle. As the season gets rolling, more good things keep happening for the Wildcats. On the first Wednesday in October, Vince Marrow finally reeled in the top target on the recruiting board in Lexington.

Westerville (Ohio) North EDGE Brian Robinson has been a premium recruiting target for a long time. The Wildcats have consistently stayed aggressive in this recruitment of the Youngstown native. That paid off as Kentucky outlasted Michigan and Penn State in this blue-chip recruiting battle. The front seven class is slowly looking like one of the best of the Mark Stoops era.

What will Brian Robinson bring to Lexington? The high four-star recruit could be described as a tweener for Kentucky’s 3-4 scheme, but the prospect brings length, motor, and burst to the table. Add that with his other physical attributes, and there should be a clear path to playing time in Lexington.

Line of scrimmage burst

To play on the defensive front in the SEC, prospects must bring many traits to the table. Players have to be big, strong, physical, durable, and tough. Strength at the point of attack is a non-negotiable. Overall size and length are also top-of-the-list requirements. Having some burst also helps.

If players can explode out of their stance that can allow them to beat blocks quickly whether in a run fit, stunt call, or obvious pass rush situation. The best thing Brian Robinson does on tape is get out of his stance with explosiveness and good pad level.

Robinson can shoot gaps and also has the play strength to hold off blockers once he earns inside leverage. The defensive line prospect does a good job finding the football and finishes tackles to the ground. The best thing Robinson does on tape is beat blocks early and create penetration. This should be a translatable skill set when moving to the next level.

Robinson also flashes the ability to disengage.

The top-five recruit in Ohio is a point-of-attack winner who can win with quickness, play strength, and length.

Effort and strain

Brian Robinson is an intriguing front-seven recruit due to his size, length, strength, and burst. The top-150 recruit has good linear speed and has a toolbox that can be developed. The blue-chipper also has some things that can not be coached.

Robinson strains and plays with a hot motor. That will lead to some good things at the next level.

Robinson flashes strong effort as a pursuit player and that could help him get on the field quicker at Kentucky. The class of 2024 prospect plays with good effort. That is a good sign.

These types of effort plays make you believe more in Robinson’s physical traits. The high-upside prospect is willing to work and will play fast. That can go a long way.

Tweener that should find a role

On tape, Brian Robinson looks like a traditional 4-3 defensive end. At 6-foot-5 and 250 hands with big hands (10″+) and arm length (33″+), the Ohio native has length and size. In Kentucky’s 3-4 scheme, defensive coordinator Brad White will ask Robinson to play Jack linebacker along the weak side of the formation where he’ll be asked to set hard edges in the run game and bend the corner as a pass rusher.

Robinson will need some development in the pass rush department, but the prospect owns the size to be a physical run defender who can win quickly off the snap. Burst and play strength should lead to winning moments on the field. There is also a chance that Robinson could outgrow the Jack position and ultimately become a 3-4 defensive end in Kentucky’s scheme playing both four and five techniques on the line of scrimmage.

Regardless of where the top-ranked prospect in Kentucky’s 2024 class ultimately ends up, this was a significant recruiting win. Brian Robinson has multi-positional versatility with translatable playing traits. Expect the blue-chip recruit to compete for playing time as a true freshman.