Tayvion Robinson stepping in as Wan'Dale Robinson's replacement
Names hold power. Italy had the Medicis. Britain has the Windsors. In Kentucky, we have the Robinsons.
On Saturday night, Tayvion Robinson put on a show in Kentucky’s 37-13 victory over Miami (Ohio). In his UK debut, the 5-foot-11 senior had six receptions and a team-high 136 receiving yards. The Virginia Tech transfer’s stunning performance immediately elicited comparisons to former Wildcat Wan’Dale Robinson.
Mystic Mark Stoops predicts Tayvion Robinson’s performance
As pleasantly surprised as BBN was by Tayvion’s breakout performance, head coach Mark Stoops expected this, and even discussed it with Wan’Dale.
“Tayvion did not surprise me because I have seen it. In particular, I’ve seen his game elevate in scrimmages,” Stoops said during the postgame press conference on Saturday. “I was talking to Wandale before the game and I told him I felt like Tayvion was going to have a really good day.”
Robinson didn’t waste any time introducing himself. On Kentucky’s first offensive play, he created a 45-yard reception to set the ‘Cats up on Miami’s 34-yard line. Even better, he had some highlight jukes in the process.
The stud wide receiver discussed the monumental play after the game.
“It felt good just to let everybody see what I could do with the ball. I tell everybody I’m a playmaker, and I just came here to make plays and help this team win,” Robinson said.
Two eerily similar first-half performances
Robinson’s spectacular first half didn’t stop there. The Virginia Beach native finished the first two quarters with 123 receiving yards, more than he ever recorded in a single game while at Virginia Tech.
Tayvion may not compare himself to Wan’Dale, but their Kentucky debut statistics are eerily similar. As mentioned previously, Tayvion Robinson had six receptions for 136 yards in Kentucky’s triumph over Miami. Wan’Dale Robinson’s first game stats? Five receptions for 125 yards.
The Robinson difference
Nonetheless, Tayvion Robinson has something that Wan’Dale never did: other great receivers to take the defensive focus away from him. Tayvion will have players such as Barion Brown, Dane Key, and Brenden Bates by his side. Wan’Dale Robinson had Josh Ali… And that was about it.
QB Will Levis realizes this difference and is excited about how it could affect the offense.
“I think it puts less stress on the receivers, on my No. 1 or No. 2 targets. They know that they’re not going to be keyed on as much because we’re able to split kind of reps and targets around to the other guys,” Levis said after the win.
Tayvion Robinson may not be an All-American, All-SEC star, or even a bowl-game MVP like Wan’Dale Robinson was. Nevertheless, if first games are any indication of a player’s upcoming season, Tayvion Robinson is going to have a special season.
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