State's Top 10 prospects: (No. 8) Alcoa's Robinson can't wait on Vols forever

In a lot of ways, Tyler Robinson fits the stereotype of a typical East Tennessean.

A bit laid back, he’s in no rush to end his college recruitment. He’s also a diehard Tennessee football fan.

Yet that passionate fandom could soon overcome his laid-back approach. Robinson wants to be a Vol. But he doesn’t want to wait forever to get that opportunity from UT’s coaches.

“I wish if they were going to offer me that they would go ahead and do it just because I’ve wanted to go there forever,” said Robinson, the News Sentinel’s eighth-best prospect in the state. “I hope they’re not being like ‘He’s a hometown boy. We can wait until the last minute.’ ”

If that happens, the Alcoa High School star could go elsewhere. The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder already has scholarship offers from Virginia Tech, Kentucky and Tennessee State.

“I’ve been a Tennessee fan my whole life,” Robinson said. “It sucks that the other schools have offered me already and they (the Vols) haven’t, but hopefully it will come pretty soon.”

UT has certainly taken a long look at Robinson. He attended the Vols’ lineman camp in early June where UT’s coaches worked him extensively at center.

“They said I really showed out there,” Robinson said. “…I’ve been talking to Tennessee a lot. I’ve been to two of their camps. They seem to like me whole lot.

“Still no offer but they’ve been talking to me a lot so hopefully that will come soon.”

Robinson has played tight end, defensive end, defensive tackle and long snapper. He would prefer to play tight end in college but he’s realistic. He’ll play whatever position will get him on the field.

“If center can get me on the field faster, I’ll play center,” Robinson said. “I’m not the fastest tight end but I’m a fast center.”

College coaches have different opinions concerning Robinson’s future. UT is thinking center. Virginia Tech projects Robinson as a tight end.

“They like big boys like me,” he said.

Kentucky isn’t sure what position Robinson will play but plans to start him at tight end before determining if he’ll grow into an SEC lineman.

Blount County has plenty of interest in where Robinson will end up.

“Everywhere I go that’s all I hear ‘Where are you going to college. Go here. Go there.’” Robinson said. “I get a little irritated but I’m always nice about it.”

Robinson has more camps to attend this summer. All the while, he’s trying not to let recruiting control his last summer as a high school student-athlete.

“I’m just trying to live life and not think too much about it,” Robinson said. “I’m trying not to let it run my life, especially not in the summer.”

At tight end, Robinson caught 32 passes for 560 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Playing defensive end, he had 90 tackles and 10 sacks.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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