Meet Michigan WR commit Zion Robinson, a freak athlete with Olympic pedigree

Before four-star Michigan wide receiver commit Zion Robinson ever picked up a football, his father, Khadevis, had already become a household name… on the track.

A two-time Olympian, Khadevis represented the United States in the 800 meters in both the 2004 and 2012 games. Zion was just starting elementary school when Khadevis competed in the latter and never really envisioned himself following in his father’s footsteps.

“My dad never pushed a sport on us,” Zion said. “He wanted us to do what we wanted to do. He didn’t have the most conventional rise to track. He loved to play football and grew up dirt poor. He had to find a way to get out. God kind of just gave him track. He said he was at a practice one day, and a coach from TCU ended up seeing him. That’s how it happened for him.”

Khadevis went on to star at TCU, winning multiple national titles before beginning a professional career that eventually led him into coaching. Zion was born in Santa Monica, California, but moved often as his father’s career took the family across the country — from UNLV to Ohio State to LSU to Ohio State for the second time to TCU.

Settling in Texas, Zion found his own passion in football. Still, like his father, he showed natural talent on the track. As a freshman, he ran a blistering 10.89 in the 100 meters — that’s a faster time than most of Michigan’s wide receivers posted as seniors — and really turned heads as a sophomore.

Despite competing in 6A, the largest classification in the state of Texas, Zion was able to win a state championship in the high jump with a 6-8 leap.  

“I actually started track a little later than most people,” Zion said. “I didn’t start until seventh grade. I love that it’s an individual sport, so it’s all on you. I took it seriously my freshman and sophomore years, and I ended up winning state, which was really cool.”

But this spring, Zion chose not to defend his title.

Instead, Zion focused on football training and basketball. That’s right, Zion is also a star on the court and plans to play both sports at the next level.

“Basketball was my very first sport,” Zion said. “I always loved football, too, and played both growing up. I ended up getting more shine in football. But I plan to be a dual-sport athlete. I played AAU this offseason, instead of doing track, and I focused on football, too. I know it’s going to be hard. But I think I can manage it. I know I have to be obsessed and dedicated. I just want to try it. I can always just stick to football later. But I don’t want to have any regrets when I’m older.”

Zion has already shown he’s very capable of handling both sports. When he was playing basketball for his high school or AAU teams, he was competing in national 7-on-7 tournaments and working closely with College Football Hall of Famer Michael Crabtree.

One of the most iconic wide receivers of the 2000s, Crabtree won two Biletnikoff Awards at Texas Tech before being selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

“(Crabtree) was a big help,” Robinson said. “He was big in breaking down all my routes. I also went to a Justin Jefferson camp, where I was able to meet him and his trainer (Jerry Sullivan), who actually coached Michael Crabtree. I’ve been able to get good coaching on the way I run my routes and how I see things as a receiver. Michael Crabtree has really helped me simplify the game.

“He’s down to earth and really just wants to get kids better. He’s also helped me with my mentality, how to work with my quarterback and just little things.”

The results have been clear.

Once viewed as a high-upside athlete, Zion now looks like a game-breaking wide receiver going into his senior season.  

“I want to win Gatorade Player of the Year for the state and be a finalist nationally,” he said. “I wrote down some stats, and I want 13 touchdowns.”

Zion isn’t just a star athlete. He also carries a 4.0 GPA and is an ambassador in his community. It’s no surprise he gravitated towards Michigan and committed to the Wolverines over offers from Miami, Stanford, Texas Tech and TCU, where his father is still coaching track.

Michigan simply checked all the boxes.

“Michigan had everything I needed,” Zion said. “It’s a top academic school and a top football school. They had a great NIL package, too. They had the full deal for me. That’s why it felt like home. To be honest, it was between Stanford and Michigan. It was a long process, but I talked about it with my family for a while, and we came down to a decision the day before I announced it.”

Need was another factor.

It’s no secret the Wolverines invested a lot in former five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and have to find a way to surround him with talented pass catchers.

“We’re going to be Michigan, so we’re going to run the ball,” Zion said. “But Bryce (Underwood) is going to be very good. He’s very talented. I think he’s my age, which is crazy. He’s big, athletic and can do everything. I think we can do a lot together.”

It may not be the Olympics, but it won’t be long before Zion is taking part in one of the biggest sporting events in America — The Game.

Zion grew up around Ohio State during his father’s two stints with the Buckeyes. Now, he’s eager to help Michigan continue to take down its biggest rival.

“It’ll be fun to talk trash to some of my old friends back in Ohio,” Zion said with a laugh. “You can change your whole life in just that one game. I’m very excited to be part of it. It’s going to be exciting to play that team down south for the next three or four years.”