A’Shawn Robinson becomes the first Alabama junior on defense to declare for the 2016 NFL Draft. He joins running back Derrick Henry after making his decision Friday.
Robinson, 6-foot-4, 312 pounds, has been a standout at defensive tackle.
The Texas (Fort Worth) native recorded 133 career tackles, 22 tackles for loss, nine sacks, five pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and three blocked kicks.
He anchored an Alabama front that allowed 74.0 rushing yards and 14.3 points per game prior to its meeting against Clemson in Arizona. Robinson chimed in with 46 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks this season, en route to his first national title and the Crimson Tide’s fourth in a seven-year span. He is projected to be taken in the first round, according to ESPN NFL Draft experts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper, Jr.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
