Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Son Of NBA Star Excited To Be Part Of Notre Dame Family BY JASON SAPP P play, speaking multiple languages, and being talented at both football and basketball. Those are just some of the traits noted when describing San Antonio Christian High School junior wideout Cory Robinson, son of NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson. icking up any instrument and be- ing able to teach himself how to COMMITMENT PROFILE COREY ROBINSON father's shadow — he joked that he began an early career as a camera- man when traveling with his father — the younger Robinson has wasted no time making a name for himself. A workout at the U.S. Army National Combine in January impressed on- lookers and altered the recruiting landscape for him while he was just getting strapped in. Notre Dame stepped up to be Despite growing up in his famous Dame. It has the same values my dad and I am looking for. We're looking for a school with family values." Iowa and North Carolina had fol- lowed suit in offering the Texas na- tive, and Wake Forest was the next program in. It was important for Rob- inson to take other visits before mak- ing a college decision, and all it took was one more stop, in Winston-Salem, N.C., following his visit to South Bend. "I just called and told Notre Dame I'm ready to commit," he reported three days following the trip to South Bend with excitement in his voice and sounds of his father feeling the same way in the background. "Coach Kelly was very excited, and it was good to hear from him that he wanted me in the family. It's just great being part of that family. It's an amazing feeling. "I felt it in my heart that Notre his first collegiate offer, and it prompted a quickly planned visit for the program's junior day on March 24. He arrived on campus with high expectations, and the Irish didn't disappoint. "I enjoyed how the coaches and Dame was the place for me, and I knew I didn't need to see any other schools." He didn't know how he was going to blaze his own path, but he's grate- ful that it will be on the gridiron. "I'm in awe of how it all hap- players were extremely friendly," the 6-4, 215-pound three-star recruit reported moments after leaving the campus. "They were kind of like me, and that's something I want when I look at the school. I enjoy being around new people, and my dad and I were both very pleased. "Coach Kelly wanted to let me know pened," he recalled of the recruit- ing process. "I just wanted to play the game. I didn't expect this when it first happened. I wanted to have an influence on my own part of this world, and I'm hopeful that it contin- ues and I can have the same impact in college. "This was all a real blessing for me. that they really want me, and they're going to recruit me that way. … I can definitely see myself going to Notre It is great being David Robinson's son, but it's also great being Corey Robinson on a day like today." His position coach, Brandon Par- rott, has always known this would be the path his player would lead. sively he attacks the football, and his awareness of the defense around him and ability to find the open field … Adjusts well when the football is thrown and brings an element to the outside running game due to his ability to block … Great team player and shows a high level of excitement about competing. transition to the next level … There's clear growth potential based on his bloodlines, so how he adjusts to a possible growth spurt could also determine where he lines up on the field … With a clear focus on football and not basketball moving forward, he'll continue to develop his experience and training regimen geared towards the one sport. Areas To Improve Tightening up routes and continued strides in developing technique off of the line will help the www.BLUEANDGOLD.com Strengths Big target with both leaping and catching ability … Tough player to defend due to how aggres- FILM ANALYSIS Robinson, a three-star recruit and the son of Spurs great David Robinson, chose the Irish over offers from Iowa, North Carolina and Wake Forest. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS the ball and uses his body. Defen- sive backs can't make a play on him because of his length and aggres- sive style of play, and the coaches are matching the way I've been de- scribing him for three years. It re- ally shows that they took the time to watch what he can do." National analyst Tom Lemming of he came out as a freshman," Parrott said. "The only difference is that now he believes in himself. He started to figure out just how good he is at this. "Notre Dame loves how he attacks "I've believed in his potential since CBS Sports had an opportunity to see Robinson, who had 42 catches for 660 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior, while in San Antonio. "He's a good, steady red-zone type — Jason Sapp of receiver," he noted. "He reminds me of Duval Kamara [a wide receiver for the Irish from 2007-10]. He's an athlete with good hands. … He's a great fit for Notre Dame." He returned to South Bend for the Blue-Gold Game on April 21. ✦ MAY 2012 43