Brian Robison

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Minnesota Vikings
currentnumber=96
currentposition=Defensive end
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|4|23
birthplace=Houston, Texas
heightft=6
heightin=3
weight=266
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Minnesota Vikings
college=Texas
draftyear=2007
draftround=4
draftpick=102
pastteams=
* Minnesota Vikings (2007-present)
nfl=ROB744810

Brian Gale Robison (born April 23, 1983 in Houston, Texas) is an American football defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the Texas Longhorns. He was drafted with the third selection of the fourth round (102th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2007 NFL Draft.

High school career

Attended Splendora (Tex.) High School, playing football for head coach Kevin Weldon...Earned All-State honors in both football and track and field...Four-year starter at defensive tackle (freshman) and linebacker (final three years)...Registered 66 tackles for losses and 28 sacks in his final three seasons...As a senior, he earned second-team All-State Class 3A and first-team All-District honors, registering 98 tackles, 20 stops behind the line of scrimmage, eight sacks and four pass deflections...Honorable mention All-State and first-team All-District selection as a junior...Posted 121 tackles, 14 stops for losses, eight sacks and seven pass break-ups for a defense that allowed only 101 points in 2000... Added 125 tackles, 32 stops behind the line of scrimmage, 12 sacks, 12 pass deflections and an interception as a sophomore...Also saw action at running back (averaged 11 yards per carry and scored three times) and tight end during his career...In track, he was one of the state's top discus and shot putters, winning both events at the district, regional and state meets as a senior...Won the 2002 UIL Championship (Class 3A) in the discus (203-1) and shot put (64-3-3/4), and won the shot (63-0-1/2) and placed second in the discus (192-9) at the 75th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays...Recorded the top discus (215-2) and shot throws (66-2) in the state as a senior (all classes)...His discus mark also was the best nationally among prep players...Won the Texas 3A discus title (184-6) and placed fourth in the shot (55-2 1/4) as a junior...Finished second in the discus at the 2000 state meet...Set the AAU Junior Olympic national record in winning the discus (202-7) in the summer of 2002...Also finished second in the shot and sixth in the javelin...Earned the Joe Ferrell Most Outstanding Field Athlete for his performance at that meet...Also played basketball (forward) for four years and baseball (pitcher) for two years...Honor Roll student...Four-year Academic All-District selection...Earned second-team Academic All-State honors as a senior...Had his number 40 jersey retired by Splendora High School in September 2004.

College career

Robison played for the University of Texas at Austin. He was part of a Texas recruiting class, which contained future NFL players Rodrique Wright, Justin Blalock, Aaron Ross, Kasey Studdard, Lyle Sendlein, David Thomas, Selvin Young, and Vince Young. [cite news | url=http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/commitlist.asp?Year=2002&School=81&Sport=1 | title=Texas 2002 Football Commitments | publisher=Rivals.com | accessdate=2008-01-31] This class has been cited as one of the strongest college recruiting classes ever. [cite news | url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-83040183.html | title=Ruling class: master recruiter Mack Brown helps Texas consistently bring in top talent, but the Longhorns' 2002 group--led by highly lauded quarterback Vincent Young--might be one of the best recruiting classes ever | publisher= The Sporting News | accessdate=2008-01-31] He was a member of their 2005 national championship team.

Brian Robison red shirted in 2002, and began play in the 2003 season for the Longhorns. In 2003, Robison played all 13 games at Middle Linebacker, starting in three of those games. He made starts against Arkansas, Rice and Kansas State for the injured Garnet Smith. Robison earned one of Texas' "What Ever it take Awards," for registering 38 tackles, 22 solo, one sack, and four stops for losses, of 10 yards. In addition, Brian had 14 quarter back rushes and caused on fumble. Brian also had one deflected pass, and set a school record with four blocked kicks, matching a mark first set by Shane Dronett in 1991.

In Brian's 2004 campaign, he was an honorable mention on the Associated Press All-Big 12 Conference. He started all 12 games at right defensive end, and participated on special teams. He was also a key element on a defense that allowed only 320.1 yards per game, which gave them an NCAA rank of 23rd that season. The defense also only allowed 17.9 points per game. Robison recorded 48 tackles, 27 solo, 1.5 sacks, and a two yard interception. He finished second on the team with 14 stops for minus 26 yards, and 18 quarterback pressures. A very good season for Brian Robison.

Robison then entered the 2005 season, and started in 12 games at right defensive end. Robison recorded a career high 58 tackles, 35 solo, and led the team in quarter back sacks with seven. He also had 15 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Robison was credited with 10 quarterback pressures, four pass deflections, and three forced fumbles. Brian also blocked one kick, recovered two fumbles, and was again a key element on a defense that ranked 10th nationally in total defense, eighth in scoring defense, eighth in passing defense, and 33rd in rushing defense. Robison was named All-Big 12 Conference first team selection by Austin-American Statesman, adding Second Team Honors from the Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, and Fort-Worth Star Telegram and Honorable Mention from the leagues coaches and Associated Press.

In Robison's final season with the Longhorns, he was All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention, and battled through a rash of injuries, but still managed to start in 10 of 12 games at right defensive end. Robison suffered a deep right knee and patella tendon bruise, and a quadriceps muscle strain, that sat him out for two games. Even with all his injuries, he still managed to get 37 tackle's, 22 solo, 5.5 sacks, and nine stops for a loss. He also added 15 quarterback hurries, three deflected passes and a blocked kick. Robison even played the Ohio State game while battling pneumonia.

During his career at the University of Texas, Brian Robison was ranked 12th in school history with 41 tackles for a loss, he tied a season record four blocked kicks in 2003, and six blocked kicks in his career. Both are records in Longhorn history. Robison also has 181 total tackles, with 106 solo tackles and 15 sacks. He was a Liberal Arts major, and was on the University of Texas Honor Roll. Brian did earn his degree before being drafted to Minnesota.

NFL career

Robison was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings and still plays for them.He was one of seven Longhorns selected by professional football teams in the 2007 NFL Draft. The others were Michael Griffin (number 19 overall), Aaron Ross (number 20 overall), Justin Blalock (number 39 overall), Tim Crowder (number 56 overall), Tarell Brown (number 147 overall), Kasey Studdard (number 183 overall).cite news |url=http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/school?id=2432&action=login&appRedirect=http%3A%2F%2Finsider.espn.go.com%2Fnfldraft%2Fdraft%2Ftracker%2Fschool%3Fid%3D2432 | title=NCAA Schools: TEXAS | publisher=ESPN | date=April 29 2007 | accessdate=2007-05-01] Lyle Sendlein and Selvin Young were not drafted but signed with NFL teams as free agents. [cite news | url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=40&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=2797&change_well_id=2 | title=2007 NFL Draft | publisher=MackBrownTexasFootball | accessdate=2007-05-01]
Robison appeared in all 16 games of his rookie season and made five starts. He recorded a pair of sacks during his professional debut and had five tackles against the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers.

References