Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson is poised to have ‘huge year’

Chop Robinson’s life and football career were in transition when he arrived at Penn State in June last year via the transfer portal.

He had to adjust to a new college, being hours away from his Maryland home for the first time and changing positions.

“I’m way more comfortable now than I was last year,” Robinson said. “There was a lot that went into dealing with (all of) that and figuring out those types of things.”

Robinson made those adjustments rather quickly. He played in every game but one at defensive end last season and finished with 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks for the Nittany Lions, both among the team leaders.

A year later, he’s better equipped physically after adding about 10 pounds, more at ease mentally and poised to be one of the top players on a very talented Penn State defense.

“He’s just so much bigger and stronger and more explosive both in the run game and the pass game,” Lions coach James Franklin said. “He’s playing really well. He’s confident. He’s doing really well academically. He’s really thriving right now. I’m really proud of him.

“I think he’s going to have a huge year.”

The 6-3 Robinson, a junior, has been projected to be a first-round draft pick next year. He was named to Lindy’s Preseason All-America second team and to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-America third team.

He sounds very confident after a full year in the Penn State strength and conditioning program.

“When I came into (preseason) camp last year, I was probably around 240 or 245 (pounds),” he said. “This offseason I put on about 5 to 10 pounds. I weigh like 255 now. It’s been a big difference because last year it was harder for me to stop the run when it came to big games in the Big Ten.

“Now I feel like I can hold my own in the run game and the pass game. Having a whole year here working out has transformed my whole body.”

Robinson played high school ball at Quince Orchard in Gaithersburg, Md., where he became a four-star recruit. He was considered the top prospect in the state and chose to stay home to commit to Maryland over offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Penn State, among others.

He played linebacker for the Terrapins as a freshman in 2021, receiving ESPN Midseason Freshman All-America recognition. Something went awry, though, so he put his name in the transfer portal in March 2022 and two weeks later committed to the Nittany Lions.

Robinson saw extensive playing time in the opener last season at Purdue and forced Aidan O’Connell to throw an incompletion on the final play of Penn State’s 35-31 win. Perhaps with extra motivation, he had two sacks against Maryland and capped the season with a solo sack and a half-sack against Utah in the Rose Bowl.

He received All-Big Ten honorable mention despite not starting even once. He goes into this season as the starter at end, opposite Adisa Isaac.

“When I see his takeoff and his explosiveness with his first 5-yard burst, I want to be just like that and even better,” Robinson said about Isaac. “Having Adisa next to me, it’s a blessing.”

The Lions have extraordinary depth at defensive end. Sophomore Dani Dennis-Sutton was one of the top prospects in the vaunted 2022 recruiting class and was rated the No. 1 prospect in Maryland, like Robinson. Amin Vanover and Zuriah Fisher also will be part of the rotation, and a few freshmen might see time, including Jameial Lyons of Roman Catholic in Philadelphia.

“I think our D-end room is really good,” Franklin said. “I think it’s in the argument for one of the better D-end groups in the conference and maybe the country.”

Robinson said he’s improved by facing offensive tackles Olu Fashanu, Caedan Wallace and others in practice.

“They’ve made me so much better,” he said. “Going against those guys every day will make the games so much easier because you don’t see tackles like that in college football. Iron sharpens iron. Come game time it’s going to be cake for us and them.”