Darius Robinson, Edge Missouri: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Robinson was a three-star recruit from Canton High School in Canton, Mich. in the class of 2019
Missouri defensive end Darius Robinson has the size and arm length to warrant a top 100 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. The former interior lineman successfully transitioned outside in 2023, and he’ll stick there at the next level.
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Darius Robinson, Edge Missouri: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Fifth-year graduate defensive end from Southfield, Mich.
Background: Robinson was a three-star recruit from Canton High School in Canton, Mich. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 689 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 645 for On3.com. Robinson was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 77 grade out of 100. He was a captain of his high school team as a senior, spending time at defensive tackle, outside linebacker and tight end. According to 247Sports, Robinson totaled 48 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss with three sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2017. He played basketball at Canton Prep before transferring to Canton High School as a junior. That was his first year of organized football.
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed 2020 LSU game with a right ankle injury along with two other games, missed three games in 2021, missed 2023 Vanderbilt game with a strained calf
Awards: N/A
Pros: Exceptional arm length, rare build with terrific measurables, room to add mass to his frame, significant experience playing on the interior and edge, times the snap well, maximizes arm length on first contact, good hand placement in pass rush, powerful swats and swipes, converts speed to power, snatch-pull, club-swim, swim move, two-handed swipe, two-handed swipe into a swim, spins back into the action, gets skinny to shoot the B-gap, breaks free from seal attempts to close the B-gap, flows down the line to the football, slips off the blocks on run blockers pushing vertically, flashes of high effort in pursuit, too powerful for Tennessee’s offensive line, especially Gerald Mincey (2023)
Cons: History of minor lower body injuries, lacks elite agility, not a twitchy athlete, average first step at the snap, pocket pusher instead of collapser, underdeveloped pass rush plan, bull rush stagnates, needs to use counter more often when rush bogs down, hip stiffness significantly limits bend, limited instances of dipping and bending around the outside, doesn’t get hands in passing lanes, too eager to collapse inside leads to giving up the edge, needs to redirect off blocks quicker to close gaps, washed down the line on down blocks, significantly disrupted by pulling blockers, ball carriers beat him to the corner, offers nothing against double teams, inconsistent pursuit speed
Overview: Robinson aligned along the defensive interior for Missouri in past seasons, but he spent most of 2023 playing edge. This season included snaps at 3-tech, 4-tech, and as a two- and three-point 5-tech. Per Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy, Robinson is a true 6'5", 290 lbs. with 34 7/8-inch arms, an 84 5/8-inch wingspan, and 10 5/8-inch hands. That’s a rare build with measurables that surpass NFL thresholds by a significant amount. Robinson has the room on his frame to add mass if needed. He is a massive lineman but isn’t a twitchy athlete and lacks elite agility. The former three-star recruit lacks an explosive first step but generally times the snap well. The fifth-year lineman maximizes his arm length on first contact to lock out linemen. He places his hands well to set up his pass rush plan and keeps his frame clean with powerful swats and swipes. Robinson’s pass rush arsenal includes converting speed to power, snatch-pulls, swims, club-swims, two-handed swipes, two-handed swipes into swims, spinning back into the action, and getting skinny to shoot the B-gap. Robinson pushes the pocket more often than he collapses it. His pass rush plan is underdeveloped and lacks diversity. The Michigan native’s bull rush stagnates, and he needs to incorporate more counters when his rush gets bogged down. Hip stiffness limits Robinson’s bend and prevents his from posing a consistent threat around the edge. He doesn’t get his hands in passing lanes when he fails to reach the quarterback. In the run game, Robinson breaks free from seal attempts to close the B-gap and flows down the line to the football. However, he can be too eager to compress the line, which leads to him surrendering the edge, and he lacks the speed to prevent ball carriers from turning he corner. Robinson needs to separate and redirect from blocks quicker. He slips off linemen who are climbing vertically to penetrate the backfield but is easily washed down the line on down blocks. Robinson offers nothing against double teams. One of the most dominant games of his career came against Tennessee and Gerald Mincey (2023). His heavy hands and raw power created significant problems for the Volunteers.
Overall, Robinson has an exceptional build with the ability to add or drop weight to fill multiple roles, but his pass rush plan isn’t diverse enough to win consistently. Robinson’s agility and bend could become limiting factors in the NFL. He projects as a rotational player during his rookie season.
Role & Scheme Fit: Base end in an even front
Round Projection: Fourth Round
Size: 6'5", 296 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 12-02-23