Where did Penn State edge Chop Robinson land in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft?
Penn State football’s run of top defensive end play has been plentiful throughout the tenure of head coach James Franklin. From All-American Carl Nassib to Arnold Ebiketie, the Nittany Lions have produced five edge rushers selected in the NFL Draft since 2016.
On Thursday evening, Chop Robinson became the sixth.
Selected with the No. 21 overall pick in the NFL Draft, Robinson will continue his professional career with the Miami Dolphins He is Penn State football’s second draftee taken thus far in the 2024 NFL Draft, joining first-rounder Olu Fashanu. He was the No. 11 overall pick of the New York Jets.
In just three years of college football, two at Penn State, Robinson climbed from an On3 four-star recruit from the Class of 2021 into one of the NFL’s top edge prospects. Here’s how he got there:
Penn State backstory
Making the move from one season at Maryland to Penn State, Robinson similarly transitioned from outside linebacker to defensive end. And, with it, he produced an honorable mention All-Big Ten season with the Nittany Lions.
That performance was highlighted by his 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss out of 26 stops. But, more important than any of the statistics, Robinson repeatedly showed up in the biggest moments for Penn State.
Using that foundational performance as a springboard into 2023, Robinson went into his follow-up campaign determined to shine further.
“My main thing is just focusing on all the things thing that I needed to work on for last year. Like my hands, my feet, my get-offs, those type of things, focusing on that would just elevate me this season,” Robinson told Blue White Illustrated. “I came in confident, but I’m more confident being around these guys. The longer I’m around them, the more comfortable I am. So just having them around is a good thing.”
Though hampered by injury at times during the 2023 season, buzz for Robinson continued as a potential NFL Draft prospect. Injured and unable to participate in the Peach Bowl, Robinson’s junior season finished with 15 tackles, including 7.5 TFL and 4.0 sacks.
Praising Penn State for his development as a player and maturation as a person, the move helped result in his NFL Draft selection.
“As a man, it helped me,” Robinson said of his move to PSU. “Coach Franklin’s message of being early to meetings and being on time, it helped me with my mindset. I didn’t think that was a big deal before I got here. And as for football, being developed by Coach Deion and Coach Scott, it’s been a blessing.”
NFL Combine Measurables
| DE Chop Robinson | Measurements |
| Arms | 32 1/2 inches |
| Hands | 9 1/8 inches |
| 40-Yard Dash | 4.48 seconds |
| Bench | – |
| Vertical | 34.5 inches |
| Broad Jump | 10 feet, 8 inches |
| Three-Cone | – |
| 20-Yard Shuttle | 4.25 seconds |
Quotable
“Regardless of his lack of polish, Robinson is a gifted player athletically — likely on a level that is top of the class. A lot of what leaves you wanting more from Robinson is coachable. Unlocking that is the key for him to go from a boom-or-bust athlete to a dominant edge defender.” — Pro Football Focus
“You’ve got to be able to play the run in the NFL. You’ve got to be able to hold up, and I think he will. And he will hustle. … He was out for a game and a half [with an undisclosed injury as a junior], so he would have probably had a couple more sacks, but that’s the nature of the Penn State defense.” — Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN
