Andrae Robinson and Adrian Robinson have a lot in common. Not only do they share the same last name, but they also share the same birthday. That’s right — they’re twins.

Their similarities do not stop there. The Robinson twins both play football. They both play running back. And they both start on the Alcovy High School varsity football team at just 14 years old.

Andrae Robinson, who wears No. 24 for the Tigers, and Adrian Robinson, No. 25, started playing football when they were 6-years-old after their father finally gave in to their requests.

After attending Veterans Middle School, the Robinsons moved to Liberty Middle where they played under Toby Davis. When Chris Edgar was hired as the head football coach at Alcovy, he brought Davis along, who introduced him to the twins.

“They were kind of well-known throughout the county, going back to park ball and then middle school,” Edgar said. “When I got hired, people were like, ‘Hey man, there’s these two twins over there that are really good.’ When they showed up for spring practice, you could just tell that they were football players and had been for a long time.”

Not many freshmen get a chance to play on varsity, let alone start, but when the twins showed what they could do, Edgar couldn’t ignore it.

“Our plan was just to bring them along slowly and not push them until they were ready,” he said. “Then in our scrimmage this fall, one of them did like a 70-yard run straight down the sideline, and I was like, ‘Okay, I guess they’re ready.’”

Shortly after, both twins were told they would be playing alongside the juniors and seniors under the Friday night lights in Sharp Stadium. Edgar’s gamble of playing two freshmen paid off as the two of them have played vital roles in the Tigers’ 4-1 start to the season.

Another thing the Robinson twins have in common is their nearly-identical season stats. Through five games, Andrae Robinson has 45 carries, 273 yards and three touchdowns, while Adrian Robinson has 43 carries, 274 yards and four touchdowns.

Like many siblings, the two of them are highly competitive with one another, engaging in a sibling rivalry since they were kids. Since they both tend to play the same position, even in different sports, their competitive nature can sometimes lead to tension.

“When he’s getting the ball more than I am, then I’ll be kind of mad,” said Adrian Robinson. “Then when I’m getting the ball more and getting more yards than him, he’ll be kind of mad on the sidelines.”

The tension, however, does sometimes turn into motivation.

“It’s pretty cool being able to play with him, because every time he makes a big play, he pushes me to do something that’s almost as good as what he did or even better,” said Andrae Robinson. “It’s like he knows when I’m at my best, and I know when he’s at his best so we can always push each other along.”

Edgar gets to witness firsthand how they interact on the field with one another.

“They complement each other well,” he said. “If one scores a touchdown, the other is like, ‘Well it’s because I blocked.’ If one doesn’t get a touchdown, they blame the other one for not blocking. I think they push each other, and at the end of the day, they are twins and they have that relationship that is inseparable. It’s a very competitive nature between the two of them.”

While they have a lot in common, they do differ in their styles of play. While Adrian Robinson is a more powerful, downhill runner, Andrae Robinson tends to be quicker in his movements and cuts. While Adrian enjoys the defensive side of the ball, Andrae would rather just run the ball.

The twins’ success doesn’t just stop on the field. According to Edgar, they’re also superstars in the classroom, getting good grades and taking advanced classes. Their grades coupled with their talent could end up taking them a very long way.

“With their manners and the way they carry themselves, combined with their athletic ability, I think the sky is the limit,” Edgar said. “They are on the radar of some big time college programs already, and if they can continue to just develop physically, mentally and socially, I think they have a very bright future ahead of them.”