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He's used to dispelling doubts

Jamonte Robinson of St. Petersburg is confident about passing his latest test - impressing NFL scouts.

By KEITH NIEBUHR, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 26, 2002

ORLANDO -- Jamonte Robinson's detractors say two things will keep the 6-foot, 220-pound St. Petersburg native from playing in the NFL: height and weight.

Robinson shrugs this off.

When he was a senior at St. Petersburg High four years ago, he heard the same things, only then it came from college coaches. He went on to become one of the most productive linebackers in Missouri history.

"I was 6-0, and about 190 pounds back then," said Robinson, a member of Team Florida in today's Gridiron Classic at the Florida Citrus Bowl. "That definitely scared a lot of people off. And that's kind of what my Achilles' heel is (to NFL scouts) right now. That's my motivation. I don't really weigh enough, but there's nothing I can do about it. In college, I tried to gain weight for years."

At Missouri, size was not an issue.

As a senior captain, Robinson, who will graduate in December with a degree in business management, earned second-team All-Big 12 honors after finishing with 121 total tackles, despite playing much of the season with a broken right hand. The previous season, he was named to the watch list for the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation's top linebacker.

The four-year letter winner and three-year starter finished his college career with 394 tackles, the second-best total in school history.

Robinson did all of this at middle linebacker.

This week, Team Florida coaches moved him to outside linebacker, a switch likely made to utilize his athleticism, and because the chances appear good he will end up playing there or safety if he reaches the NFL.

"I've talked to a couple of scouts and they see me as a third-down back or safety," Robinson said. "I've never played (outside linebacker), so it's kind of a disadvantage, but it's football, and you're on defense. It's a different responsibility, but it always comes down to running and hitting. It was kind of tough at the beginning but it's going real well, now."

What Robinson lacks in size, he hopes to make up for with speed. He said his 40-yard dash times are consistently in the 4.48-second range.

"I've always been told my speed is real good," Robinson said. "They didn't mention me at Missouri without mentioning my speed. That's my biggest asset."

One prospect evaluator calls Robinson an NFL long shot.

"He's a good college player," said Joel Buchsbaum of Pro Football Weekly. "But he probably doesn't have the size to play linebacker in the NFL and probably doesn't have the speed or the fluid hips to make the move to safety. If you protect him and let him run to the ball, he makes tackles. He's active and goes sideline to sideline, but he can't set up and take on a block. I don't think he's got a very good chance (of making it in the NFL)."

Robinson takes the criticism in stride.

"He'll find out," Robinson said. "If I can get into camp, I know I'll bust my butt and will end up on somebody's team. Regardless of how much you get talked to (by scouts), if you don't get drafted in the first three rounds, you're going to have to earn your way onto the team. After the first round, nobody is looking for starters, they're looking for special-teams players. That's where I'll make the team at."

This week's practices were attended by scouts and/or coaches from 32 NFL teams, including the expansion Houston Texans. Robinson was pleased with his performances, but got little feedback from NFL representatives. His play today could be crucial, because he is not scheduled to participate in any other all-star games.

"I'm just hoping to show them one more time what I've showed them before," Robinson said.

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