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All of the running backs, please.
Andre Robinson, ladies and gentlemen!
Stats:
Home/HS: Harrisburg (PA)/Bishop Mcdevitt
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 205 lbs
Recruited By: Charles Huff
Starz 'n Sheetz:
Stars: 4* 247Sports, Rivals, Scout--3* ESPN
Offer Sheet: Ohio State, Pitt, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Rutgers, Syracuse
Cinema:
Also check out Andre on Hudl, right here.
Excited to announce my commitment to Penn State! To God be the glory. WE ARE pic.twitter.com/rELDPdbxHI
— Andre Robinson (@A_robinson5) February 27, 2014
Andre has been a Penn State target for some time now. He was one of O'Brien's main targets in the state of Pennsylvania, and one of the guys that James Franklin made it a point of seeing immediately upon his hiring. Under the old staff, Andre had built a very solid relationship with Larry Johnson, which led to cause for concern when Johnson jumped ship to Ohio State. When I spoke with Andre recently, he told me that Coach Johnson's presence at Ohio State would have no effect on his interest in Penn State. Apparently he was not kidding.
It was rumored that a Notre Dame offer would throw everything out of whack for the 4* Bishop McDevitt running back, and that Penn State would be in for much more of a fight. At this point in time, that offer has not yet come. I'll be sure to keep you update on Andre's status if the Fighting Irish decide to give Andre that offer.
Andre visited State College a few days ago (February 24th), and was reportedly blown away by the visit. What seemed like a 50/50 choice between Ohio State and Penn State, was suddenly leaning decidedly in Penn State's favor. And then..well you know the rest.
Outlook:
Andre is one of the three highly ranked running backs out of Pennsylvania this year. He, along with Penn State commit Saquan Barkley and Penn State target Josh Adams, is primed to become a premier player in the Big Ten. Despite the three running backs brought in by the staff in 2014, this group is already looking the part of a devastatingly effective three headed monster behind Christian Hackenberg/Michael O'Connor/"insert 2015 quarterback name here". That being said, it's unclear what the future holds for Andre as of this moment in terms of a possible redshirt. It would seem right now that the staff will let Andre and Saquon battle for a spot during spring practice, despite who may be in front of them. This would be a wise strategy, because Andre might just be the best runner on the team when he enrolls.
Andre runs like someone with a much larger frame than he possesses. He is physical, and can run over a defender who doesn't properly position himself to make a play. Andre plays with a style that will make defenses cringe as the game goes on. The end of a game when the defenses are tiring, is when Andre is going to make defensive coordinators throw their headsets. It's hard enough for a defender to take down someone who Zwinak's power, but to try and take down someone with that same mindset of looking for contact, in a body with a lower center of gravity? Forget it.
Andre's commitment also signals a change in thinking at Bishop Mcdevitt. Athletes from Bishop have typically not ended up at Penn State in recent years. Andre's commitment could mean a better relationship between Penn State and the Pennsylvania high school powerhouse for years to come.
You can follow Andre on twitter at @A_robinson5, and you can read my interview with Andre from the other day right here.
Andre's commitment brings the class to seven.
Welcome to Penn State, Andre!
