With 32 days until South Carolina football kicks off the 2025 season, a look back at No. 32 Dunta Robinson
South Carolina football will take the field for the first time in the 2025 season on August 31st when the Gamecocks take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. That means kickoff is just 32 days away.
A handful of No. 32s made their mark on the program, but arguably the top name ever to wear that number is Dunta Robinson. A stuck-to-you-like-glue cornerback during his days wearing garnet and black, Robinson was part of a long line of big-time coverage men who made life extremely difficult for opposing receivers inside Williams-Brice Stadium.
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A native of Athens, Georgia, Robinson picked South Carolina over lackluster interest from his hometown Bulldogs. He began his career in Columbia playing behind studs like Sheldon Brown and Andre Goodman. He even got shifted to safety and the spur position for a time. Whenever the NFL came calling for Brown and Goodman, though, Robinson stepped in seamlessly. His elite speed and quickness made him one of the top man-to-man coverage players ever for the Gamecocks.
In his first year as a starter, Robinson picked off four passes to lead the team. He also picked up some All-SEC recognition for his efforts. Then, as a senior in 2003, teams stopped throwing his way, limiting Robinson’s statistical impact. However, he managed to intercept one pass, and he made the most of it, returning it for a touchdown.
Robinson’s 2002 interception against Kentucky remains one of the most athletically impressive plays in team history. On their opening possession, the Wildcats pulled out a trick play. On an attempted double pass from wide receiver Tommy Cook, Robinson wasn’t fooled. He leapt over receiver Derek Abney and snagged the pass one-handed, pinning it to his helmet for the interception. The play made a big difference, as Carolina went on to win a one-possession affair.
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Unlike some corners, Robinson had no reservations about coming up in run support. Despite being smaller than a lot of other defensive backs, he didn’t mind taking on bigger running backs in the open field. He made more than a few players regret not getting behind their pads when challenging him. Robinson’s big-hitting ways and strong personality made him a fan favorite among the Gamecock Faithful. He was also a team captain in 2003.
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As one of the first three defensive backs selected in the 2004 NFL Draft, Robinson became the South Carolina football program’s seventh first-round pick, the first as a full-time cornerback, and the third top-10 pick, regardless of position. He won the Pro Football Writers Association Defensive Rookie of the Year that season after intercepting six passes, knocking away 19, forcing three fumbles, and adding three sacks.
Robinson was a borderline Pro Bowler for nearly a decade and finished his career with 10 strong professional seasons. He was the Houston Texans’ all-time leader in interceptions and passes defended until former South Carolina teammate Johnathan Joseph claimed both records a few years later.
