When Andre Robinson stepped onto the field against Region 3-AAAAAA foe Evans last October, he was well within striking distance of gaining 300 rushing yards in his freshman year at Alcovy.
The fact was not lost on his twin brother, Adrian — partly because Andre — the self-proclaimed “quiet brother” made sure Adrian knew about it.
That night against Evans, Andre had just 30 carries for 11 yards in a 52-0 loss, but it was enough to push him past 300 yards for the season. And when he did it, it sparked something in Adrian.
“Like, I felt like I’ve gotta top that,” Adrian said. “When he said he got 300 yards, I was injured, and I said I’ve gotta hurry up and come back so I can get 300 too.”
It didn’t happen for Adrian. He was nursing a pulled hamstring that kept him sidelined for virtually all of region play. But the whole episode between the brothers showed the kind of competitive fire Alcovy head coach Chris Edgar believes can make the Robinson brothers elite.
“They’ve got all the tools,” Edgar said. “Physically, they’ve got everything they need to be that kind of player. Every time we get off the bus when we go to camps and things like that, the college scouts are identifying them and pulling them over.”
Indeed, the twins showed off flashes of brilliance while helping Alcovy to a 4-6 season after going just 2-19 in the previous two years combined. Andre finished the season with 336 rushing yards and three scores, while Adrian clocked in with 286 yards and four touchdowns.
Both started strong out the gates with 100-yard performances in Alcovy’s opener against Duluth. But the pair also felt the rigors of varsity football in a high classification catch up to their fresh-out-of-eighth grade bodies down the stretch of the season.
“They definitely started strong,” Edgar said. “But I think they wore down a bit as this level of football started to catch up to them.”
No worries, though. Both twins say they’ve spent as much time as possible trying to get better in the offseason for just that reason.
“From last year to this year, I realized you can’t take any reps off or any plays off,” Andre said. “So I tried to get every rep in the weight room and every rep on the field this offseason because I know how much it means between winning and losing.”
For Adrian, now with a fully healed hamstring, he wants to allow the bitterness of barely missing the playoffs to fuel his maturation process.
“Missing the playoffs left a bad taste in my mouth, because being that close and not making it makes you see you could’ve done more on the field or in the weight room to be prepared,” Adrian said. “I missed most of the region with injury, so all of that really made me hungry to do more this year.”
Such a mentality is music to Edgar’s ears, as it echoes everything he said he wants to see from the duo.
“As I’ve said, they’ve got the physical tools,” Edgar said. “But I want to see the maturation. I want to see them not be afraid to get out there on the field, despite their youth, and be the leaders I know they can be. They’re such competitors, and everyone on the team, no matter what grade, can learn from that if they set that example.”
Both Robinson brothers say that’s exactly what they want to do, so as to help Alcovy make history, and to etch their names in the cornerstone of the program’s rebuilding process.
“When future players ask about me, I want them to say I was coachable, willing to do what they asked,” Adrian said. “I don’t want coaches to say, ‘You don’t wanna be like him.’ I want them to say, ‘He did what he was supposed to do in the classroom and otherwise, and he succeeded that way.”
Same for Andre.
“Before I leave this program, I wanna be known as one of the most well coached athletes on the field,” Andre said. “I want them to say I was good in the classroom and did whatever I was asked. I just want to be known as one of the best players to come through this school.”
ALCOVY TIGERS RUNDOWN
Returning Starters on offense – Junior QB Cameron Anderson, WR Jairus Anthony, C Courtney McCoy, RB Adrian Robinson, RB Andre Robinson, ATH Quindrelin Hammonds.
Returning starters on defense – SS Trey Smith, CB Demetrius Tuggle, CB Bryson Wilcox.
Key departures – OL Zion Dorsett (Transfer), Cameron Schadl, Austin Davy, Kyrese Knox, Koby Perry.
Key Newcomers – DE Jalen Banks, ATH Dee Fanning, OG Marcus Perdomo, DE/T Gavin Fletcher, LB Logan Wyatt.
When on offense: Alcovy’s offensive game plan is simple: Take advantage of their skill position speed and create mismatches on the outside that can create big, momentum building plays. What it’s offensive line lacks in size, it wants to make up for it in quickness. Speed will be the Tigers’ calling card to success.
When on defense: The Tigers are looking to bring the pressure from a lot of different angles. “Whether it’s from linebackers, or safeties, or the guys up front, we’re going to try to confuse the opposing offenses,” said head coach Chris Edgar.
When on special teams: Look for kicker Jose Ramos to be a weapon. During offseason work, he’s regularly nailed field goals from as far as 40 yards out. Also, speedy returners like Hammonds and Tuggle will look to generate some big, field flipping plays in the return game that could set the up the Tigers’ offense for in good field position.
Key Games:
Obviously the September 1 game against in-county rival, Eastside is circled on the calendar. But Edgar considers the whole second half of the season as key. “Our entire region schedule are key games,” said Edgar “We didn’t win a region game last season, so we want to correct that for sure this year.”
Coachspeak: Coach Chris Edgar says: “Our goal is to make the playoffs. The team is working hard and conditioning to get us to that point. I want to see leadership and maturity in key areas and among some of our standout players. I think we have the ability to definitely make a postseason run.”
