Demeioun "Chop" Robinson was given the nickname "Pork Chop" by his father, Jon Robinson, as soon as he was born.
"He looked like a baby sumo wrestler," John said. "One of my neighbors was like, 'Oh, look at Pork Chop,' and then it kind of stuck and we kept calling him 'Pork Chop.' He was a fat baby. By about 4, he started to grow upward and it stretched him out."
As he got older, he simplified the nickname to "Chop," which perfectly fits his relentless and violent play style.
Robinson was a highly touted prep star out of Maryland, listed as a five-star prospect with a total grade of 98. He was the 22nd-ranked prospect in the 2021 class and the No. 2 edge rusher.
Surprisingly, he decided to stay close to home, committing to Maryland over other more highly lauded football programs such as Alabama, Georgia, and Penn State.
Robinson saw limited time as a true freshman for the Terrapins but racked up two sacks. He then transferred to Penn State, where he played for two seasons.
As a true sophomore in his first season for the Nittany Lions, Robinson exploded onto the scene to become one of college football's most efficient pass rushers. While his five sacks don't pop off the page, he also had 48 pressures and was the highest-graded pass rusher at 92.4. Injuries derailed his 2023 season, but he was still hyper-efficient with a nearly identical 92.3 pass-rush grade, which ranked second behind Laiatu Latu.
Penn State Edge Demeioun "Chop" Robinson #BuildingTheBoard
— Chicago Football Connection (@CFCBears) February 15, 2024
Chop doesn't look like the other Bears DE's on their roster. And for awhile, I saw that as a reason why the Bears wouldn't be interested. But, him being different than what they currently have actually makes him more… pic.twitter.com/jmP5TTfh4d
Before the 2023 season, Robinson was listed in Bruce Feldman's annual "Freak List" at No. 9. It was high praise for the young player, and Bruce took it one step further by comparing him to former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons. That's a lofty comparison I will not make, but I also don't hate it. Either way, there's no denying that Robinson moves differently than the other guys on the field.
Not only does he move differently, but he also looks different from the other Chicago Bears' defensive ends. And for a while, I saw that as a reason why the Bears wouldn't be interested. But his being different from what they currently have makes him more appealing.
His explosiveness, bend, and speed are elements missing from Chicago's current rotation, making him an ideal complement to the power profiles of Montez Sweat and DeMarcus Walker. They can be the guys setting the edge on early downs, allowing Robinson to enter for obvious pass situations where his explosiveness and athleticism can shine. At the very least, teams would have to leave an extra running back or tight end to chip him, which disrupts the offense's timing. This was the Bears' thought when drafting Dominique Robinson, but that has yet to pan out. They might want to invest a higher draft pick in that profile.
Chop's explosiveness and movement skills made him a nightmare for college offensive tackles, and it's easy to envision him adjusting to a pass-rush specialist role early on in his NFL career with the chance to develop into even more down the road. He also was in a heavy rotation at Penn State, so he was well-rested with fresh legs against tired college offensive linemen. It's unclear if he would have the same success if asked to play more when he can't go 100 MPH each snap.
But Robinson can be a one-trick pony, and more athletic offensive linemen will be able to match his speed more consistently. To succeed in the NFL, he must develop more pass-rush counters for when his speed rush fails. He flashes converting speed to power and an inside move, but he needs to be more consistent. An inside spin move would also help keep linemen off balance and prevent them from over-setting to match his speed.
Robinson's relentless motor and competitive toughness will make him a favorite of NFL general managers. I'm skeptical about whether he can be a three-down player in the NFL, but there's no doubt he can get after the quarterback.
NFL Comparison: Haason Reddick (Ceiling) | Vic Beasley (Likely Outcome)
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