More on Jabril Robinson

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Sat Jul 20 18:19:34 GMT-04:00 2013

Jabril Robinson had no intentions of committing to Clemson when he arrived at the All In Cookout Friday afternoon, but after spending time with players, coaches and prospects he had no choice but to become a Tiger.

The 6-3, 256-pound defensive tackle from Leland (NC) North Brunswick committed to defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks Friday night while on campus at the All In Cookout, becoming Clemson’s 15th 2014 commit and the Tigers’ first defensive line prospect of the cycle.

Robinson told TigerNet Saturday afternoon that the players and coaches gave him that at-home feeling that he had been looking for.

“When I went, I didn’t really have any intentions of committing, but once I got there and just sat down and talked to people and got to meet with the players, I felt like I was home,” Robinson told TigerNet. “I felt wanted. It was a very comfortable feeling there.”

After spending time with players, coaches and other prospects , Robinson knew it was time to pull the trigger and commit to Brooks.

“Well, I looked at Coach Dan Brooks and said, ‘Coach, I think this is where I want to be.’ And, he looked at me and said, ‘What did you say?’ And I told him again, ‘Coach, this is where I want to be.’ He looked like he won the lottery after I told him,” Robinson said.

Robinson first visited Clemson for a Junior Day during the winter, but after he departed campus he felt like he needed to see more before he could make his decision final.

“I was sitting at the table and Coach Brooks sat down to eat and we were just talking,” Robinson said. “Coach Brooks was bringing players over there and we were talking. I was talking to other prospects and it just hit me. I finally made the decision that I wanted to be here. The junior day was the first time I had ever been to Clemson and it felt like a good place, but I wasn’t really sure. I wanted to wait until I felt the time was right. I wanted to see more, hear more and learn more about Clemson and at the cookout I did that.”

At the All In Cookout, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney wants the prospects to get a glimpse of Clemson’s family atmosphere, and for Robinson it did just that.

“It’s good and it was nice. It was the first time I've ever been to anything like that before,” he said. “It felt like everybody wanted to be there. It didn’t feel like it was a requirement for everyone to be there- the players, the coaches, the parent and everyone.”

The cookout featured music, and games, something Robinson said he would find at any of his family cookouts.

“We just stayed there. We ate and they had music and games going,” he said. “It was just like a family cookout. I got to talk to Tajh Boyd and a lot of their players. I didn’t really get to remember all of their names, but I talked to a good bit of them. They said it was wonderful place to be.”

As a junior, Robinson had 70 tackles, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles and 20 tackles for loss.

Robinson said that when he steps on the field he will give his team everything he’s got.

“I’m a very humble player. A player that will work hard,” he said. “And, a player that will give you all I’ve got when I can.”