Robinson commits to PSU

By JOHN GIBLIN
Collegian Staff Writer

Kingsway Regional High School product Jason Robinson was born to play football for Penn State.

Next year, he will fulfill that prophecy.

For the past three summers, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound lineman from Mt. Royal, N.J., has attended the Penn State Nike Training Camp. But now he can put that training to use.

Yesterday, Robinson officially announced his decision to attend Penn State, where he is expected to play on the defensive line.

"Every school on the East Coast has been calling here this week," Valerie said. "It's been getting very hectic."

This summer while in Happy Valley, he ran a 4.76 40-yard dash and bench pressed over 365 pounds. Like most recruits, Robinson looked at his options and listened to offers from various Div. I schools across the nation. But when it came to narrowing down his selections, his mother, Valerie, said the choice was obvious.

"He's in love with Penn State," she said. "The coaches must have treated him right — he chose not to attend any other football camps."

Valerie said Jason spoke with Penn State receivers coach Kenny Jackson Sept. 1, confirming his selection.

Robinson is the Nittany Lions' 23rd verbal commitment thus far, and plans to make a visit to Penn State after the first of the year.

"I've been going up to Penn State camps for the last few years, so I knew some of the coaches and players were really nice guys," Robinson said. "It just made my decision really easy."

Robinson starts at defensive end and offensive tackle for Kingsway coach Tony Barchuck this season.

He caught 15 passes at tight end last year for the Dragons, and was named All-South Jersey honorable mention as a defensive lineman.

Besides football, Robinson is also an accomplished track and field athlete. He has thrown the shot put 49-feet-5-inches and the discus 160 feet.

"The sky is the limit for Jason," New Jersey Online recruiting guru Dennis McCarthy said. "Few other athletes can match his sheer athletic skills. He can run with anyone and has the strength and versatility to play either defensive tackle or defensive end in college."

The senior is ranked as one of the top 25 players in the Northeast in the G&W Recruiting Report, while Superprep lists him as the No. 34 defensive lineman in the country.

Robinson was offered scholarships by Tennessee, Auburn, Rutgers, Virginia, Duke, Boston College and Maryland, but it was Penn State that landed the prized prospect.

"When Jason is on his game he's a disruptive force who simply can't be blocked by high school linemen," McCarthy said. "He has All-America level potential, but we haven't always seen the constant dominance he's quite capable of.

"If he turns it up a notch you could be talking about the No. 1 player in this class."