Georgia linebacker Christian Robinson (45)
Photo: University of GeorgiaATHENS, Ga. – After making 11 starts for Georgia as a redshirt sophomore inside linebacker during the 2010 football season, Christian Robinson got creative about his bright future.
Robinson purchased a poster board and put some pictures on it, including one of quarterback Kellen Moore of Boise State, which was the opening opponent for the Bulldogs last season. He also started a list of goals, beginning with a 3.0 grade point average and making the All-SEC team.
“It had all these awards and things I wanted to be in consideration for,” Robinson said. “I still have it, but it’s rolled up. What that taught me was to stop trying to plan things out for yourself. I wound up learning how to be a really good teammate, because I was no longer a starter.”
The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder from the Atlanta suburb of Norcross wound up making more starts as a sophomore than the following two seasons combined. He was among the first to pick up the 3-4 defensive scheme of coordinator Todd Grantham two years ago, but his role was reduced last season due to the impact of Jarvis Jones outside and the emergence of younger inside talents Alec Ogletree and Amarlo Herrera.
This year, Grantham has used Robinson’s communication, coverage and blitz skills in third-down situations, yet Robinson also has a knack for defending the triple-option. He made his first start of the season last week against Georgia Southern, amassing nine tackles and two tackles for loss, and is likely to start Saturday against visiting Georgia Tech.