'He looks like an NFL player': McKinley graduate Dominique Robinson readies for NFL combine

Sitting back and watching on the sidelines was never Dominique Robinson’s style. All he wants to do is make an impact at the highest level, even if it means switching positions — which the former McKinley High School star did twice in college to get himself on the NFL's radar.

"When you look at him, he looks like an NFL player,” Miami University head football coach Chuck Martin said.

Robinson gets his chance this weekend to show NFL coaches and scouts that he can be an NFL player. Robinson will take part in the NFL combine Saturday in Indianapolis, working out with the rest of the defensive ends who are hoping to improve their chances of getting drafted.

Originally recruited to play quarterback at Miami University, system changes and depth in the QB room played a part in Robinson switching to wide receiver. In his first two seasons with the Redhawks, Robinson recorded 27 catches for 452 yards and four touchdowns in 37 games.

“I took it seriously because I wasn’t already getting reps, and so why not take the opportunity and make something of it,” Robinson said of the move to receiver.

Just when the future looked bright for Robinson as a 6-foot-4 receiver, the Redhawks made another system change where Miami stacked up with weapons that were his size and more experienced than him.

Convinced he wasn’t going to see the field the next year, Robinson suggested a move to defensive end to his coach. Martin, who already had intentions of playing Robinson at a different position, liked the idea — knowing that could be Robinson's ticket to the NFL.

“He’s a genetic freak,” Martin said. “When he was a true freshman, he has been on our campus for two weeks, and NFL scouts would come up to me and ask who is No.11? He’s that guy that stands out in a crowd as far as being big, strong and athletic. He just looks different than most kids."

Martin admires Robinson by the way he carries himself, and the level of maturity he has at a young age. Even though Martin considers himself a role model to his players, he looks up to Robinson instead of the other way around.

“He is very unique that way,” Martin said. “... You match that (physical ability) with his intelligence and work ethic ... that’s just one of his huge advantages.”

Robinson switched to defensive end during bowl week of the 2019-20 season. Robinson had some experience playing safety back in high school, but had never put his hands in the dirt. There were some adjustments during the transition to the D-line, but It didn’t take Robinson long to get acquainted with his new role.

“It was different. In my first week of defensive end, my head was swirling,” Robinson said. “Like it was not a natural position for me to be in, but you know, once I got used to it and got to do it often, it was smooth.”

The 2020 season was anything but smooth. Robinson and the rest of his teammates were sent home after the season initially was canceled by the Mid-American Conference on Aug. 8 because of COVID-19. Robinson took the time to work on his craft before the MAC reversed itself a month and a half later and decided to have an abbreviated 2020 season.

“While I was home, I just worked on a lot of things that I know I needed to work on: hip flip, being in a better stance, shooting my hands from the ground, and then getting stronger in the weight room and stuff like that,” Robinson said. “Taking that time off really helped me.”

Once the season resumed, Miami only played three games and Robinson made nine total tackles and two sacks in those games. This past season, Robinson made strides as he produced 28 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He earned third-team All-MAC in his final year in Miami.

His level of productivity on both ends was impressive enough that he received an invite to play in the Senior Bowl in late January, in Mobile, Ala. Robinson arrived confident he was going to do well. Robinson wanted to represent the MAC and deliver a message that there is just as much talent in that conference as in the Power Five. A fellow Miami Redhawk, linebacker Sterling Weatherford, also joined Robinson in the Senior Bowl and on the National Team roster.

“When you get there, and you see those big-school guys, coming from Miami of Ohio, everybody talking about the MAC conference is not good, but when you go and actually dominate those dudes who played at those bigger schools, it’s reassuring,” Robinson said.

During one-on-one drills, Robinson wanted to make a good impression. So he lined up against projected first-round right tackle Daniel Faalele from the University of Minnesota. Robinson encountered the 6-foot-8 Faalele when Miami played Minnesota in the second week of the 2021 season. For Robinson, he was his toughest competitor.

Robinson’s name started to catch a buzz from NFL scouts. He also caught the eye of ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper, who tweeted:

“Dominique Robinson, DE, Miami (Ohio): Made a rare move and went from WR to DL in 2020. He's raw, but his all-around game impressed me. Had 11 tackles for loss last season. He's a third- or fourth-rounder right now.”

All 32 teams have gotten the chance to speak to Robinson, which was a formality for most NFL prospects. Separately, Robinson met with the Chicago Bears, the Seattle Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans.

Dominique Robinson putting himself in 'Making some money' position

Robinson said he is more comfortable as a 4-3 defensive end, where he’ll be lined up in a three-point stance, however, he was able to learn both defensive schemes working with the New York Jets and Detroit Lions coaching staffs during the Senior Bowl.

“I think that’s why teams are so high on him because of his versatility. He played wideout and can be that 3-4 hybrid guy who drops back into coverage and also rushes,” Martin said. “They love him as a rush guy, obviously. Even though he hasn’t played that position yet. You watch him play receiver, he can obviously drop into coverage and be comfortable out in space. And to me as a 4-3 guy, he can get off the edge and really stress the offensive lineman with the speed and the athleticism.”

Robinson has been training at the X3 Performance and Physical Therapy in Fort Meyers, Fla., to prepare for the combine. Dave O’Neal has been training Robinson throughout this process. O'Neal is impressed with Robinson's level of athleticism and thinks he has a high ceiling as he continues to improve as a pass rusher.

“The No. 1 thing I tried to work him with was how to use his length ... his arms are so long, and his body is long,” O’Neal said. “We were trying to help him use that, which is something (you've learned) when you started the position when you’re young. It takes time to develop how to use that ... so when he starts putting it together, which he showed at the Senior Bowl when he got out there. He was using his length in practice and really putting himself (in good a position) … we like to call it ‘making some money.’”

O’Neal is confident Robinson will test well Saturday at the combine to further grab the attention of scouts.

“He’s going to jump out of the building,” O’Neal said.” His vertical and broad jump numbers make people go, wow.”

For Robinson, he wants to make his case during the position drills.

“Being able to go out there and show how versatile I’m am and how smooth I look, doing those things would be fun, Robinson said.

'Family Matters' to Dominique Robinson

Robinson is big on family and is inspired to play for them as the NFL draft approaches.

In a household of athletes, Robinson is the second youngest of four brothers, and they all played at the collegiate level. Jasper, the youngest brother played for Kent State before hanging it up for good because of a spine injury. Caleb played at Charleston (W.Va.), and Anthony Jr. played at Baldwin Wallace.

Their father, Anthony Sr., helped McKinley win a 1984 state basketball title playing alongside Gray Grant. He then starred at Bowling Green and played professionally before becoming a pastor in Shiloh Baptist Church in Massillon.

Dominique Robinson looks up to his father and how he prepared him and his brothers with his words of wisdom as a former athlete.

“He took us out and broke it down to us so we know what we needed to do to get where needed to get to,” Robinson said. “So if you want to play at this level, these are the things you have to do. You have to work harder and do all these things to be what you wanna be.”

Every high school game, Anthony Sr. would ask him if he gave it his all. He also values time and made sure his sons never wasted any.

“He’ll tell if I didn’t give it my all. He’ll let me know, but for the most part, I put it all out there,” Robinson said. “I asked myself after every game ... did I give it my all? As long as I know I did, I can walk out and say, 'Yeah, and I’m cool.'"

More: The really big game, to them — Miami vs. Kent State: Here's to you, Mr. Robinson. And to you, Mr. Robinson.

Dealing with Canton City Schools' McKinley-Timken merging

Robinson began his high school athletic career in Canton at Timken, starring in football and basketball, before it merged with McKinley. After the change, Robinson at first had no intention of playing football and wanted to stick with basketball. Eventually, he was persuaded that football gave him a better chance to play in college. He was all in.

Dan Reardon, who now coaches at Youngstown Ursuline High School, coached at McKinley during the merger. He remembered the growth he saw in Robinson back then, and it showed on the field. The coach saw a player who proved "to be a really good leader for our football team during that whole process and everything.”

“He is a well-grounded young man, and was just a great student, great leader, humble, and you know all the things that you hope your children grow up to be," Reardon said.

Robinson delivered one of the more memorable recent moments in the McKinley-Massillon football rivalry in 2015. It was Halloween afternoon and the Bulldogs were playing their final game at Fawcett Stadium, which was soon to be rebuilt as Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

“That game was different, “ Robinson said. “I told my parents, and I told anybody who asked that knows about it, I told them that that game was more impactful than any college game I ever played in. It’s crazy because I played in front of more fans in both years of that game than I ever played at Miami. “

The Bulldogs were trailing late in the fourth quarter with three minutes left to play after a crucial pick-six gave Massillon the late lead.

“We called a pretty safe pass play just to try and get the first down on third-and-6 or something like that,” Reardon remembered. “ It was going to be a quick completion. They got pressure immediately, and Dominique got flushed and threw directly at the defensive end who catches it and returns it for a touchdown.”

There were no panic from either Reardon or Robinson. After executing two-minute-drill type plays, the Bulldogs moved down the field and were near goal line.

That’s when Robinson scrambled to his left made the memorable flip over a defender for a game-winning touchdown. A crowd of more 10,000 people erupted after that play.

Memories remain fresh.

"That specific play was an exclamation point-type play to the type of game that it was,” Reardon said. “It was such a dramatic ending in that stadium, and particularly who we were playing against. But you have to look from the previous drive, and it makes it even more special. It was something.”

‘I’m from Canton, I got to be a Hall of Famer’

As a Canton native, Robinson has visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame numerous times during field trips as a kid. He envisions that someday he will be enshrined and have his face on a bust. And he's not afraid to share the vision.

Robinson was asked by an NFL scout if he'd rather be a Super Bowl champion or a Hall of Famer. He didn’t hesitate when he answered that question.

“I’m from Canton. I got to be a Hall of Famer,” Robinson said. “The Super Bowl is cool, but when you’re from Canton, you want to get your head in that Hall of Fame. That’s the ultimate goal.”

Robinson has a ways to go in reaching that long-term goal. His only focus now is to make an NFL roster and be a contributor right away. While he understands he might not be near the top of any teams' draft boards, his confidence and versatility are enough for him to believe he'll find his way onto the field like he has throughout his football career.

He knows special teams could play a big part in his immediate future, in addition to his development as a defensive end.

“I’m going to impact the team someway, somehow," Robinson said. "I’m going to be traveling (to play somewhere). I’m too versatile to be sitting back and doing nothing.”

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Former McKinley star Dominique Robinson headed to NFL Combine