The Penn State football team is in a great place in terms of defensive stars in 2023. Some of those players have already generated 2024 NFL Draft buzz from NFL Draft experts. But there is one Penn State defender that has transformed himself to the point where he feels unstoppable. That is star Penn State defensive end, Chop Robinson.
Which Penn State defender feels unstoppable ahead of the 2023 season?
Mark Wogenrich who covers Penn State athletics for Sports Illustrated gathered some interesting details about Chop Robinson in his recent post Penn State’s Chop Robinson ‘I Feel Unstoppable’. There is a deep level of respect for Robinson throughout the Nittany Lion coaching staff for the work he has put in, but also for the natural athleticism he brings to the field.
Wogenrich writes that “Now, [Chop] Robinson is a 6-3 255-pound athlete who ran a 4.47 time in the 40-yard dash and has built himself into one of the nation’s strongest and most explosive edge rushers.” To put that in perspective Georgia’s Nolan Smith ran a 4.39 40-yard dash during the 2023 NFL combine which helped him secure a first-round selection pick 30 overall in the 2023 NFL draft to the Philadelphia Eagles. If Robinson can continue to make big plays in 2023 he certainly could see himself in the same situation.
Which Penn State coaches are impressed with Chop Robinson?
Later Wogenrich discusses how the offensive linemen at Penn State have to train its players differently because of how impactful Robinson is during practice.
Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein said, “When you’re stiff and high, you’re off balance, and Chop Robinson will throw you 15 yards up the field.” This goes to show you if that’s how the offensive line has to change in order to handle Robinson in practice, imagine what opposing defenses have to prepare for from a week-to-week standpoint.
The Penn State football defense is expected to be one of the best units in the country and DE Chop Robinson is a big part of that expectation.
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