MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — For more than two months, West Virginia coaches courted defensive end Jabril Robinson, a graduate transfer who played 206 snaps at Clemson last season.
On Thursday the 6-foot-2, 270-pounder signed with the Mountaineers, bolstering a defensive line that already added USC grad transfer Kenny Bigelow at nose guard.
“He’s a really good player. If he had been at any other ACC school other than Clemson, he probably would’ve been a two-or three-year starter,” said David Hood of TigerNet.com. “Out of 129 schools in the country he probably starts at 127 of them.”
Robinson appeared in 23 games over three seasons at Clemson, rotating from end to tackle while backing up the likes of Shaq Lawson, Scott Pagano, Carlos Watkins and DeShawn Williams. The Tigers’ defensive line remains particularly loaded next season with Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, Clelen Ferrell and Austin Bryant projected as NFL first-round picks.
“He’s a really good player. If he had been at any other ACC school other than Clemson, he probably would’ve been a two-or three-year starter. Out of 129 schools in the country he probably starts at 127 of them.” — David Hood of TigerNet.com.
Robinson made 38 career tackles, half of those last season when he played in 11 games for a team.
“He’s talented and smart, and the proverbial light came on for him after his sophomore year,” Hood said. “It just seemed like there was always this logjam ahead of him.”
Robinson projects to start at defensive end opposite Ezekiel Rose, allowing junior Reese Donahue to be used in a backup role.
While finishing 2017 with a 7-6 record, West Virginia’s defense ranked 90th in points allowed (31.5) and 106th in total yards surrendered (445.5) and 103rd in rush defense (204.2).
Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, expressing no qualms about plugging in one-year transfers to improve the talent level, also has added former UCLA cornerback Denzel Fisher.