Tavius Robinson: Born in Canada, Made to Be a Raven
Tavius Robinson has develop into a defensive centerpiece with a physicality paying homage to a Ravens legend.
By Ryan Mink
Tavius Robinson was on the 2023 Senior Bowl, bouncing from desk to desk doing interviews with NFL scouts when one caught him without warning.
He does not need to say which group it was, however one group instructed Robinson they had been involved that he was too good to be a very good participant.
“They had been like, ‘You are from Canada. You are this smiley, jolly man,'” Robinson recalled. “In the event you take a look at the movie, you already know rattling properly that I am not good on the sector.”
Off the sector, Robinson is a stereotypical Canadian. On it, he is the prototypical Raven.
Because the Ravens head into the 2025 season with what media retailers have proclaimed as the very best roster within the NFL, Robinson is maybe essentially the most under-the-radar participant. But speak to anybody contained in the Beneath Armour Efficiency Heart they usually’ll let you know he is a part of their basis.
“Make no bones about it, Tavius Robinson is a centerpiece in our defensive entrance,” Cross Rush Coach Chuck Smith stated this summer time.
From Canada to Ole Miss
One of many first indications that Junior Robinson noticed that his nephew had what it took to be a soccer participant got here at an amusement park.
As needs to be no shock for the 6-foot-6 Tavius, he was a tall 6-year-old, which means he was large enough for thrill rides at Canada’s Wonderland.
“There’s numerous rides that numerous adults concern to go on,” Junior stated. “He was keen to take all of them on. He was fearless.”
Tavius grew up in Guelph, Ontario, not too far west of Toronto. In a rustic identified for hockey, Tavius began enjoying soccer at 10 years outdated, following the lead of his uncle.
Junior was a second-round decide within the CFL and performed 10 seasons as a defensive again for six completely different groups. It was an admirable soccer profession, and one which Tavius might envision for himself. Tavius began his school soccer on the College of Guelph, similar to his uncle.
However Tavius additionally had greater desires. In a hallway main out to the sector had been all of the CFL helmets, and beneath every, the alumni who performed for them. On the finish of the road was a generic NFL helmet with no participant names. Robinson would ultimately develop into the primary.
“I might at all times contact my uncle’s identify and the NFL helmet as I used to be going out the tunnel,” Tavius stated. “I at all times wished to go to the NFL, however I at all times knew it could be lots more durable. I assumed it could be a rookie camp invite or as an undrafted free agent.”
Tavius performed two seasons at Guelph and possibly would’ve completed there had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian U Sports activities League cancelled its 2020 season, however Tavius did not need to cease, so he began to discover the thought of taking his abilities to America.
“Not directly, COVID was a blessing as a result of it gave him that chance to actually check himself,” Junior stated. “He was beginning to take flight. I actually was behind him.”
Tavius’ school roommate and good friend, Jake Bennett, helped him put collectively a spotlight tape. The duty of distributing it to American schools was taken up by Eric Tillman, a longtime basic supervisor for a number of CFL groups and former Senior Bowl govt director. Tillman had as soon as prolonged the primary Senior Bowl invitation to a Canadian college participant, Tyrone Williams, a cornerback who performed six seasons between the NFL and CFL.
“I’ve at all times felt that there are numerous actually good younger athletes in Canada,” Tillman stated. “I’ve at all times felt prefer it was form of an underutilized useful resource when it comes to america.”
No person from America had even given Tavius a sniff when he was popping out of highschool. After they noticed his large dimension (with room to develop) and relentless play on movie, he was all of a sudden the Canadian treasure among the largest NCAA applications fought over.
Jay Hobson, then the top coach at Southern Miss, known as Tillman again inside half-hour of getting the tape and stated they had been going to supply Tavius a scholarship. It regarded like Tavius was going both there or San Diego State till Ole Miss, Tillman’s alma mater, stepped as much as the plate. Tillman despatched Robinson’s tape to Tom Luke, the assistant athletics director for participant growth, who acquired it to Head Coach Lane Kiffin.
“I stated, ‘Tom, look, there is a younger man from Canada who’s very uncooked, however I believe he has important upside,'” Tillman stated. “‘I believe he can play within the SEC with a 12 months of growth, whether or not as a starter or as a high quality rotational man.'”
Ole Miss and Kiffin ultimately purchased in and never even then-LSU head coach Ed Orgeron, who began blowing up Tavius’ telephone, might persuade him to decommit.
“He stated, ‘I’ve made a dedication to Ole Miss and I believe I ought to honor it,'” Tillman stated. “That tells you who he’s. Nowadays, it is refreshing.”
Tavius might have taken a redshirt 12 months however opted towards it. He ended up beginning 5 video games. He thought-about declaring for the NFL Draft after a robust second season however determined to return. After Tavius had a breakout third season with seven sacks, the Ravens drafted him within the fourth spherical forward of a minimum of one AFC North rival who was additionally .
“Going from Guelph to Ole Miss, I can not even comprehend how a lot of a change that may be and step up in competitors,” Ravens defensive finish and fellow Canadian Brent City stated. “His progress over time has been so quick. 5 years in the past, he was at Guelph. It is outstanding.”
Tillman was chatting with Ravens Govt Vice President Ozzie Newsome this spring when Robinson got here up. Newsome chuckled and stated they had been excited once they drafted Robinson, however not even they anticipated what he is develop into.
“I am simply thrilled for him as a result of he is such a very good man,” Tillman stated. “It is easy to characterize him in all these platitudes of group man, character man, laborious employee all of them. Every of them is relevant, however the sum of all these components finally ends up being fairly darn good.”
Good Man Till He Cuts Off His Circulation
When Ravens working again Keaton Mitchell was within the emotional and psychological pit of his lengthy knee rehab within the 2024 offseason, he stated he felt alone, forgotten about. That’s, apart from by Robinson.
Robinson and inside linebacker Trenton Simpson, who’ve been excellent mates since being Ravens rookie roommates, known as and texted Mitchell incessantly to test in on him. They launched Mitchell to sushi, went to Baltimore Orioles video games collectively, and vacationed in Cancun and Jamaica collectively.
Ask anyone within the Ravens locker room who’s the nicest man on the group and virtually all of them will level to Robinson or Simpson.
“They’re my dawgs. They had been there for me,” Mitchell stated. “They’re some nice guys, particularly Tavius. Off the sector, he is a pleasant dude. On the sector, as soon as he places these bands on and cuts his circulation off, he is an entire completely different dude.”
You learn that proper. Robinson wears extraordinarily tight bands round every forearm, then one other above every wrist beneath the tight tape round his fingers to chop off his personal circulation. He did it in the future at Ole Miss and hasn’t stopped since. Add within the thick black paint he smears under his eyes on gamedays, and he has the look of a person able to go to conflict. It fits his sport.
“It makes my fingers the smallest quantity of numb,” Robinson stated. “It will get them good and able to put them on individuals.”
Maybe nobody has felt Robinson’s fingers jar them again greater than Ravens tight finish Charlie Kolar, who has the unenviable job of blocking Robinson in follow. When Kolar was within the early levels of evolving right into a extra blocking-heavy function final summer time, Robinson wrecked him in a one-on-one drill. A 12 months later, Kolar holds his personal higher, however it’s nonetheless a ache.
“He is a fantastic participant,” Kolar stated. “He is tall, has actually lengthy arms. And he simply performs laborious on a regular basis.”
Smith, who has been teaching Robinson the previous three seasons, might speak all day about Robinson’s virtues. Final offseason, he known as him a “glass eater” who “reveals no mercy” and by no means turns down a follow rep.
“Talking for our group I should not be, however I believe they’re going to agree Tavius Robinson is all the pieces you search for in a Baltimore Raven,” Smith stated. “He acquired that dawg in him. He has a possibility to have a breakout season.”
As a rookie, Robinson performed 29% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps and notched one sack. Final season, he performed 43% of the snaps and had 3.5 sacks. Sacks are nice, and Robinson retains working at his craft to develop into a greater go rusher, however they are not his calling card. His forte is thrashing individuals up tight ends, tackles, pulling guards, whomever.
Robinson’s means to flip the swap from good man to mauler is hard to understand, however to not City, who grew up not removed from Toronto.
“That is a part of the Canadian ID,” City stated. “You take a look at hockey. You combat within the sport and then you definately shake the man’s hand after. There is a toughness side to being Canadian. Canadians are good, however they’ve an edge to them.”
Robinson’s physicality was made in Canada. When he was enjoying youth soccer and earlier than extra vicious hits had been pushed out of the sport, Robinson stated he was at all times attempting to gentle youngsters up.
“I like dominating and taking another person’s will,” Robinson stated. “That is what acquired me into the sport. From an early age, I felt like that was at all times my robust level. You have to preserve your head on a swivel. In the event you do not, I am coming to get you.”
Preserve your head on a swivel. Sounds just like the lesson villainous Pittsburgh Steelers large receiver Hines Ward discovered when he acquired a style of his personal medication from former Ravens linebacker Jarret Johnson.
The Good Consultant
Robinson loves watching movie, and one of many guys he most enjoys learning is Johnson. Robinson even went so far as to dig up outdated podcasts the Ravens legend had been on, simply to get inside his thought course of.
After being despatched anarticle about how Robinson emulates his sport, Johnson made a two-day journey to Baltimore to observe coaching camp and meet the younger pupil. After the primary follow, they stayed on the sector and acquired hands-on speaking about stances. Johnson gave Robinson a tip that he used on the primary play the subsequent day. To no shock, it labored.
After the second day of follow, they sat down to observe movie collectively. It was principally performs Tavius comprised of the previous couple of years, with some Johnson highlights sprinkled in to match and distinction. It lasted greater than an hour, with Johnson mentioning the minute particulars on methods to angle his rush, the place to punch the blocker, and the place his eyes needs to be.
Johnson marveled on the sorts of performs Robinson is already making, complimented his instincts, and beloved when he blasted any person carrying the opposite coloration. The identical few phrases stored developing.
” kicking this dude’s ass.”
” working by his face.”
” strolling him again.”
Johnson and Robinson communicate the identical language. Regardless that Robinson is Canadian and Johnson is a Florida man who performed his school days at powerhouse Alabama, they’re minimize from the identical fabric.
Among the issues Johnson did, just like the well-known spotlight of him de-cleating Ward, would draw yellow flags and stiff fines today. However Johnson sees shades of that very same demeanor in Robinson. Heck, they even put on the identical jersey quantity.
“The toughest factor you possibly can train individuals is to need to be bodily and to need to like soccer. He does these two issues,” Johnson stated. “He might completely play in any period.”
Johnson noticed the sport altering over his 12 years within the NFL, and he is seen it proceed to evolve since he retired following the 2014 season. For essentially the most half, he likes the modifications, however feels it has led to gamers who’re wired a bit bit in another way.
For instance, Johnson wasn’t any person who put a lot give attention to restoration and rehab. A part of it was simply being a bullheaded powerful man. However when it got here to gameday, it did not matter. If he was hurting, he was nonetheless enjoying.
Johnson performed in 129 consecutive regular-season video games in Baltimore a outstanding feat solely topped by punter Sam Koch, whose physique did not take almost the form of punishment Johnson’s did. Robinson has performed in each sport since he entered the league. In reality, he hasn’t missed even a single follow.
“I do not need to be a back-in-my-day kind of man, however the tradition round soccer in youth sports activities and school soccer has modified in numerous methods for the higher,” Johnson stated. “They’re higher youngsters, they’re more healthy, higher vitamin, higher sports activities science, social media and all these items. However they do not have as many outlaws. They don’t seem to be chasing these youngsters out of the bars. They don’t seem to be doing loopy stuff. With all that stuff, you get some badass dudes on the sector.
“However when you’ve gotten somebody like Tavius that could be a good child, he is enjoyable to be round, he is good I imply, you’ll let him date your daughter however he enjoys the bodily aspect of the sport, that is form of uncommon immediately. That is how I used to be. I preferred to bang. That is what was valued right here as a Raven.”
Johnson’s profession lasted 12 years however by no means fairly acquired the appreciation outdoors of Baltimore that it deserved. Robinson stated he could be blissful to have a profession like that.
“He is a legend on this constructing,” Robinson stated.
Robinson and Johnson might have sat in that dim auditorium speaking soccer all day. However once they lastly turned the movie off, the teenager acquired the veteran’s blessing.
“You are a helluva participant, man. You have acquired an enormous future,” Johnson stated. “You are the proper particular person to be representing No. 95.”
again to high
