Film Room: Tayvion Robinson

Wan’Dale Robinson provided the transfer portal blueprint for Kentucky at wide receiver. The Wildcats are hoping that Virginia Tech transfer Tayvion Robinson can can keep the good times rolling in Lexington.

On National Signing Day, the former top-500 recruit out of Virginia Beach (Va.) Frank W. Cox committed to Kentucky after spending three years at Virginia Tech. In Blacksburg, Robinson recorded 113 receptions and nine touchdowns while also contributing carries in the running game and serving as the primary punt returner for the Hokies.

The high-profile transfer is a proven playmaker at receiver that will bring quality production to Kentucky. Now it’s time to step into the KSR Film Room to see what Liam Coen’s offense will be adding in the program’s latest transfer portal addition.

In the first year in Coen’s scheme, Kentucky dialed up their fair share of vertical shot plays. Due to the current personnel on the roster, most of these shots had to go to the slot receiver. Wan’Dale Robinson was constantly targeted on slot fades, deep posts, and over routes as the Wildcats looked to create explosive plays in the passing game.

Tayvion Robinson can succeed in all of these designs.

Operating out of the slot at the top of the screen, Tayvion Robinson has a free release on the the vertical route. The play-action fake combined with the three wideout concept gives the defense plenty of eye candy to work through. Robinson easily beats the safety at the top of the route and creates a throwable lane for his quarterback.

The 5-foot-10 wideout pulls in the catch and then finishes the play with a touchdown. The Virginia Tech transfer has the ability to make plays vertically down the field.

There will be times when the play is covered and no one is open. Or a quarterback could get pressured and the ball may need to be released early. When those situations occur, wideouts must be able to create and complete contested catches.

Tayvion Robinson can turn 50/50 balls into positive plays for the offense.

In the extended red zone, West Virginia has the Virginia Tech passing concept defended well and Tayvion Robinson is blanked by the middle safety up the seam. The quarterback decides to give his guy a chance at the 50/50 play and the wideout makes a play.

Tayvion Robinson can be a play creator in an offense.

However, the transfer is not just a slot receiver. Tayvion Robinson can work through tight man coverage and make tough receptions. Lined up a Z receiver in the red zone, Robinson creates another touchdown for his quarterback.

Kentucky has also found their punt returner for the 2022 season.

A former high school quarterback, Tayvion Robinson possesses some strong traits that should be put to good use at Kentucky. The slot receiver has strong contested catch ability and is more than able to create at completions. At Virginia Tech, the wideout wasn’t schemed open very often and was hamstrung by a revolving door at quarterback.

That will not be the case in Lexington.

The transfer will step into an offense with a proven quarterback in Will Levis who will need weapons to step up as Kentucky must replace production left behind by Josh Ali and most likely Wan’Dale Robinson. Tayvion Robinson will fill that void by bringing a slot receiver skill set to go along with the ability to play outside receiver. Meanwhile, the new addition can be used on gadget plays in the running game and brings major value as a returner.

Kentucky just landed a major piece in the transfer portal.