Chop Robinson, Edge Penn State: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Demeioun “Chop” Robinson was a four-star recruit from Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Md. in the class of 2021
Penn State edge rusher Demeioun “Chop” Robinson is still early in his development, but he has the potential to become a first round-caliber prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s a prime candidate for a breakout season in 2023.
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Chop Robinson, Edge Penn State: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Junior defensive end from Gaithersburg, Md.
Background: Demeioun “Chop” Robinson was a four-star recruit from Quince Orchard High School in Gaithersburg, Md. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 68 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 177 for Rivals, and No. 62 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 38th in the nation with an 87 grade out of 100. He transferred from Maryland to Penn State ahead of the 2022 season. Robinson broke the school sack record at Quince Orchard and earned All-Met honors. He amassed 85 tackles, 14 sacks, three forced fumbles, and an interception as a junior. Robinson led Quince Orchard to a 25-2 combined record in 2018 and 2019. The team won the 4A State Title in 2018. Robinson was selected as an Under Armour All-American.
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed the 2022 Minnesota game with an injury
Awards: 2022 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten
Pros: Special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units, appears to have above-average arm length, room to add mass on his frame, squats multiple reps of 495 lbs., nice lateral explosiveness, explosive and dynamic athlete, sudden upper and lower bodies, high-level athlete, first step and speed to challenge tackles vertically, flashes of dipping and bending around tackles, plays through contact in the half-man relationship off the edge, attacks the tackle’s inside shoulder, hits tackles with inside-out feints, chains stutter move into a B-gap rush, inside swim, rip move, spin move, closing burst, spins back into the action when he gets too far upfield, gets his hands up for passes defensed when he fails to get home, gets skinny to shoot gaps, speed to track down run plays to the near sideline, speed to make plays as a backside run defender, mobility to drop into intermediate zones or cover the flat
Cons: Never played 500 defensive snaps in a season, lean frame especially in his lower body, unable to play through linemen, displaced vertically in the run game, easily sealed in the run game, offers nothing against double teams, can’t anchor the point of attack, leg drive doesn’t generate significant displacement, hand placement and usage are still very raw, loses his balance going into his rush and ends up on the turf, inconsistent bend to turn the corner, some hip tightness, pad level rises quickly, pass rush stamped out by blocking tight ends, slides off tackle attempts, lacks the high-end agility to make open-field tackles, burn the Ohio State (2022) tape
Overview: Robinson has special teams experience on the kick coverage, punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units. He appears to have above-average arm length on a frame with room to add significant functional mass. According to Penn State, Robinson arrived at the program in the 2022 offseason weighing 239 lbs. He played the season in the low to mid-240s, and now sits in the 250s. That increased weight will be crucial to improving his consistency and draft stock because he looked physically outclassed against Ohio State (2022). Robinson is a phenomenal, dynamic athlete with nice lateral explosiveness and suddenness. He has the first step and speed to challenge tackles vertically with the dip and bend to flatten his rush to the quarterback. Robinson plays through contact in the half-man relationship off the edge. He attacks the tackle’s inside shoulder early in the game before using inside-out feints to set up future moves later on. The former four-star recruit chains a stutter move into a B-gap rush. He also uses inside swims, rip moves, and spin moves. Robinson has excellent closing burst, but when he doesn’t get home, he gets his hands up for batted passes. The Maryland native spins back into the action when he gets too far upfield. He gets skinny to shoot gaps in the run game and has the speed to track down run plays to the near sideline. His speed helps to make plays as a backside run defender. Penn State drops Robinson into intermediate zones and gives him coverage assignments to the flat. He deploys from two or three-point stances. However, Robinson is still a developmental prospect. He’s never played 500 defensive snaps in a season and has a lean lower body. Robinson couldn’t play through linemen in 2022 and was displaced vertically in the run game. He couldn’t anchor the point of attack against the run and lacked the leg drive to generate significant displacement as a pass rusher. His hand placement and usage are still very raw, and he occasionally loses his balance going into his rush and ends up on the turf. Robinson isn’t as bendy as his teammate Adisa Isaac. There are moments when Robinson struggles to unlock his hips and bend around the tackle. That tightness combines with an inconsistent pad level to raise concerns. Robinson slides off tackle attempts and lacks the high-end agility to make open-field tackles against loose skill position players. He had no answers against Ohio State (2022) for physically superior players in Dawand Jones and Paris Johnson Jr.
Overall, Robinson is a high-level athlete who is still developing the play strength and technical skills to be a consistent impact pass rusher. He primarily wins with speed and explosiveness, but there are flashes of him increasing his contact balance and chaining together pass rush moves and counters.
Role & Scheme Fit: Outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme or designated pass rusher
Round Projection: Late First to Mid Second
Size: 6'3", 253 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 04-11-23