High School and College Career
Tavius Robinson played collegiate football at Ole Miss. As a freshman in the 2020 season, Robinson showed promise early on as he saw action in 10 games and played 381 snaps for the Rebels. While on the field, Robinson made 11 tackles,and 13 total pressures, including 10 quarterback hurries, 2 quarterback hits, and 1 sack throughout the entire season.
The following year, Robinson returned to the Rebels’ lineup as a sophomore and played in 11 games, recording a total of 349 snaps. He showed improvement on his stats from the previous year, making 15 tackles, and 15 total pressures, including 10 quarterback hurries, 1 quarterback hit, and 4 sacks on the season.
In the 2022 season, Robinson’s journey as a Rebel continued into his junior year. He played in 12 games and contributed on 620 snaps. Robinson made 13 tackles, and 36 total pressures, including 19 quarterback hurries, 11 quarterback hits, and 6 sacks over the season.
Tavius Robinson Scouting Report Introduction
Tavius Robinson, a senior defensive lineman for the Ole Miss Rebels, has quite an interesting backstory. He hails from Canada and began his collegiate football career playing for the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. However, for the 2021 season, Robinson decided to transfer to Ole Miss in the United States. Initially, he was an important rotational player but quickly became a full-time starter for the 2022 season.
One of Robinson’s most notable attributes is his rare measurables. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-6 and weighing 260 pounds, Robinson towers over many of his opponents. Additionally, he possesses exceptional natural athletic ability, which he showcases through his high-level plays as an edge defender. His impressive radius and range as a defender helped make him an impactful player for Ole Miss in 2022.
It’s important to note that Robinson plays in a system that runs multiple fronts, which changes his alignment and overall effectiveness as a player. However, Robinson has shown to be most effective when he is aligned on the outside edge of the tackle in a traditional 5-tech or wide-9. In terms of run defense, Robinson can use his length to quickly get into offensive linemen and set the edge of the defense effectively.
As a pass rusher, Robinson is most effective when he is in a four-point stance and can explode out of his stance using his speed to win around the arc. He has natural athleticism that allows him to take an inside or outside track and move laterally to execute counter moves. Furthermore, Robinson’s length when rushing the passer is a significant difference-maker. He is often able to turn reps that may only result in a QB pressure for most players into sacks or forced fumbles due to his arm length and ability to be disruptive.
Despite his strengths, Robinson does have some deficiencies as a player. These show up when he is aligned on the inside of an offensive tackle, where he has to be more involved as a run defender. Robinson’s lean frame and playing alignments that require him to be more involved in run defending highlights his strength-at-the-point-of-attack issues.
Taking everything into account, it’s clear that Robinson shows his best potential as an edge rusher. With his great length and athleticism, there’s no doubt that Robinson has the potential to be a highly impactful pass rusher in the NFL.
Strengths
Tavius Robinson has agility and technique that make him a force to be reckoned with on the field. With his ability to turn the corner around the edge, Robinson has a great closing speed.
Robinson has strong hands that he uses to move linemen to either side while keeping his eyes on the backfield. His long limbs and athletic ability help him to maneuver through blockers.
He held his own when in coverage, demonstrating that he could play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. In addition, as a run defender, Robinson’s speed and lateral movement make him both electrifying to watch and effective on the field.
Finally, Robinson’s change-of-direction skills, length, and upper-body strength enable him to discard blockers with ease.
Weaknesses
He lacks fluidity when changing direction and often experiences difficulty when attempting to bend the edge. As a result, he can be pushed beyond his pocket in these situations.
Additionally, Robinson’s pad level is inconsistent, which can result in him being pushed backward off the snap. Notably, he relies predominantly on his innate abilities rather than technical refinement- his raw talent being his primary asset. Some teams will see this as a positive if they think he’s coachable.
Tavius Robinson is the 106th prospect on our draft big board.