STATE COLLEGE – Chop Robinson ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine two weeks ago and couldn't find his time amidst the excitement.
It wasn't until he saw his fellow Penn State teammate Adisa Isaac and other defensive ends he knew from training that he realized he had achieved something special.
“I was walking back and I saw Adisa and the other guys,” Robinson recalled Friday at Penn State’s Pro Day. “They were clapping (their hands) and were so happy for me. I knew I hit something crazy. I was just excited after seeing those guys react.”
The 6-3, 254-pound Robinson ran a 4.48 in Indianapolis, one of the fastest 40-yard dash times ever recorded by a defensive lineman at the Combine. He also had a broad jump of 10 feet, 8 inches, which helped him achieve the third-best overall athleticism score by a defensive lineman this year.
It was no surprise that Robinson remains on an emotional high and couldn't contain his smile on Friday.
“I actually called him (Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes) right after the Combine,” he said. “He was just so excited and so happy for me. He said I looked smooth in the drills.”
Robinson was one of about a dozen Penn State players who worked out in front of NFL assistant coaches and scouts at Holuba Hall.
Penn State tight end Theo Johnson has also seen considerable improvement in his stock since the Nittany Lions ended their season with a 38-25 loss to Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl.
Johnson impressed NFL teams at the Senior Bowl in January and then ran a 4.57 in the 40 at the Combine, the second-fastest time among tight ends. He also had the fastest shuttle time among tight ends, tied for the fastest 10-second split and finished second in the broad jump (10-5) and vertical jump (39.5).
RAS, a website that determines relative athletic scores at the Combine, said Johnson scored a 9.99 out of a possible 10, the second-highest score among tight ends over the last 37 years.
“I feel really good about it,” Johnson said on Friday. “This whole process is something you train for your whole life. I feel like I capitalized on the opportunity. I feel like I did the best I could. I’m in a good spot right now.”
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah described Johnson as the best tight end at the Senior Bowl. ESPN analyst Matthew Miller said last month he could be the third tight end taken after Brock Bowers of Georgia and Cade Stover of Ohio State.
He’s expected to be chosen in the second or third round.
“I think I’ve helped myself a ton,” Johnson said. “I was a guy who people had a lot of questions about. I wasn't able to put as much as I wanted on tape. I think I’ve shown people that I can move well.
“I want to show everybody that I’m fluid in my routes and that I move a lot differently than a typical 6-6, 260-pound man. I can do anything a tight end needs to do.”
Johnson caught 34 passes for 341 yards and seven touchdowns last season, tying for second on the team in receptions with fellow tight end Tyler Warren, who returns to Penn State.
He said he has gotten a lot of advice from former teammates Brenton Strange, who was picked in the second round last year by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Pat Freiermuth, who was also a second-round pick in 2021 by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“The history of tight ends who have come through here is a significant reason I came to Penn State,” Johnson said. “As soon as I arrived, I wanted to make an impact. I believe I've achieved that and I'm proud to carry on the tradition.”
Robinson has upheld the impressive legacy of Penn State defensive linemen. Following his performance at the Combine, his chances of being a first-round pick increased after some mock drafts had placed him in the second round.
He was asked if he thought he was good enough to be a first-round pick.
“Absolutely,” Robinson said. “I'm someone who consistently gives their all every single day. I'm consistent in everything I do. I have the best start and the best flexibility. These are things that come naturally to me and can't be taught.
“I don’t pay attention to any mock drafts. I know the kind of person and player I am. Where I end up, whether it's the first, second, third, or fourth round, it doesn’t matter to me. They will get the same player no matter where I'm chosen.”
