Penn State football standout defender receives national praise from Pro Football Focus

Chop Robinson, a well-known Penn State football standout defender heading into his second season with the Nittany Lions, gained recognition as one of the best defenders from last year’s team.

Despite being a first-year transfer, Robinson quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with during his inaugural season in State College. Notably, he delivered a stellar performance against his former team, the Maryland Terrapins, leaving a lasting impression.

Chop Robinson is turning heads

Robinson’s exceptional abilities have earned him a reputation as one of the nation’s premier edge defenders. In fact, he claimed the top spot as the highest-graded pass rusher during the 2022 season. Recently, Pro Football Focus unveiled their list of the top 10 returning edge defenders for the upcoming 2023 season, and it comes as no surprise that Penn State’s own Chop Robinson secured a place among the elite, landing within the top three nationally.

Penn State football standout defender breaks the top-3 nationally per PFF

Heading into his second season in the Blue and White, Chop Robinson is thought to be one of the best defensive players in the entire country. Still, being graded by PFF’s algorithm as a top player is one thing; being ranked among the nation’s best is an even bigger deal.

Recently, that is precisely what happened, as Robinson was named a top-3 returning pass rusher in the sport — he comes in at No. 3 in Pro Football Focus’s top 10.

Chop Robinson possesses an imposing physical stature, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 253 pounds, which perfectly complements his skill set as a pass rusher. During his debut season with the Penn State football team, Robinson played a pivotal role in Manny Diaz’s formidable defense. He made significant contributions, recording 26 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.

Robinson was the top-graded pass rusher a season ago (Not top-ranked)

In recognition of his outstanding performance, Robinson was crowned the nation’s top-graded pass rusher by PFF in 2022. As he enters his second season with the Blue and White, he has once again secured the prestigious title, earning the esteemed position as the No. 1 returning pass rusher for the upcoming 2023 season.

Within PFF’s rankings of the highest-graded pass rushers for the 2022 season, Robinson claimed the coveted top spot, boasting an impressive overall grade of 90.6, surpassing other exceptional talents in the field. The closest competitor, Bralen Trice from Washington, held an 89.1 overall grade. As we approach the new year, both Robinson and Trice will grace the field once more, solidifying their positions as the top two pass rushers in the nation; it’s worth noting that Trice is ranked above Robinson is the new rankings, coming in at No. 2.

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