For Jammie Robinson, playing in the NFL would fulfill a dream.
Even though he’s thought about it throughout his life, the former Florida State safety isn’t sure how he’ll react when it finally happens.
“I honestly don’t know,” said Robinson. “Once my dream comes true, all I’m going to be able to do is live in the moment. I’m going to cry like a baby and I’m going to take care of my mom. After that, I’m returning to the drawing board to start with a new chapter.”
Robinson was among a group participating in FSU’s Pro Day on Friday, including offensive linemen Dillan Gibbons and Jazston Turnetine, tight ends Camren McDonald and Wyatt Rector, defensive lineman Robert Cooper, defensive end Leonard Warner III, defensive backs Jarques McClellion and wide receivers Ontaria Wilson and Mike Roussos. The event occurred in front of 43 NFL scouts and personnel in the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility.
The 5-foot-11 defensive back has spent the past two seasons with Florida State after transferring from South Carolina in 2020. Robinson was named to the All-ACC first team in consecutive years after leading the Seminoles in tackles each season, finishing with 183 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and 5 interceptions.
Two days after the Seminoles’ 35-32 win against Oklahoma in the Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando, Robinson declared for the NFL draft, making his announcement on New Year’s Eve. Three days later, he was in Phoenix where he worked out in preparation for the NFL Combine. He’s been there ever since.
“It was an everyday plan and I had to make sure I was committed to it,” said Robinson.
Robinson said he spoke to many NFL teams during his time at the combine and while his time in the 40-yard dash wasn’t ideal (4.59 seconds), the Georgia native believes he’s done enough on the football field to warrant consideration.
“The 40 was the 40 and I know my game speed speaks for itself,” he said. “If you turn on the tape, you can see my 4.3 speed, but I ran 4.5.”
Some mock drafts have Robinson projected as high as a second-round selection, while others have him dropping to the third or fourth rounds.
“One thing about me when it comes to football is that I’m a student of the game,” said Robinson. “That’s something that stood out to a lot of teams. When they pulled up my plays and asked me what call we were in on defense and I was able to spit it out to them and let them know what call we were in and everybody’s position.”
The 2023 NFL Draft takes place April 27-29 in Kansas City.
Unsurprisingly, Gibbons is taking a business approach to his preparations for the draft.
The mammoth offensive lineman graduated from Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business before transferring to Florida State in 2021, where he added an MBA.
“It’s about my personal brand and being my own Fortune 500 company,” said Gibbons before his work out. “What I put on display here at Florida State speaks for itself. What [I did Friday] should add to that story and allow me to reach the goals I’m trying to achieve.”
Gibbons has spent the last three months in Texas, training at OL Mastermind with Duke Manyweather.
“I was there for 14 weeks, since the first of the year, having fun and training with some of the best offensive linemen in the country,” said Gibbons. “I’ve been tuning my craft, lateral movement and quick explosion. I’ve dropped 27 pounds during that period.”
Gibbons, a two-year starter at multiple positions, led the team in offensive snaps (843), playing through various aches and pains. The time off after the season has paid off for the St. Petersburg native.
“I’ve been playing college football for six years, so it was awesome to have this period to recover, to make myself better and to focus on my weak areas,” he said.
Rector’s decision to declare for the draft came down to family.
“I married a couple of weeks back and that was pretty exciting,” he said. “But I just talked to her and found out a week before the Cheez-It Bowl she was pregnant, too. It’s pretty important I go and chase my dreams because I have this opportunity. I’ve always told my parents and I always told her if I had the opportunity to chase my dreams, I was going to do it.”
Rector spent three seasons with the Seminoles after transferring from Western Michigan in 2019. The Leesburg native appeared in 35 career games, playing primarily on special teams where he was named Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year and team captain.
“If this doesn’t work out, then I can say I’ve given everything I’ve got and then I’ll go and be the best father I can be.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Matt Murschel at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel.
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