Late-blooming Canton football player making impact in mighty SEC
Canton High School graduate Darius Robinson has enjoyed a stellar college football career at the University of Missouri.
A 2019 graduate of Canton High School, Darius Robinson didn’t step on a football field until the weeks leading up to his junior year of high school.
Just over five years later, Robinson is a difference-maker in the mighty Southeastern Conference.
A senior who is eligible to return for the 2023 season, Robinson started nine games — and saw action in 12 — for the University of Missouri, which was preparing to tangle with Wake Forest in Friday’s Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl.
Becoming a difference maker
Playing against college football’s elite competition, Robinson — a defensive lineman — racked up 31 tackles (5.5 for loss), 3.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries for the Tigers during their 6-6 regular season.
One of his best 2022 efforts unfolded against No. 1-ranked Georgia as he recorded two tackles (one for loss) and a sack against the Bulldogs on Oct. 1. He also had solid games against SEC opponents Kentucky (four tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Arkansas (one tackle for loss and one sack).
Majoring in hospitality management, Robinson was anything but hospitable on the gridiron during Missouri’s 2021 bowl game against Army as he finished with a career-high eight tackles.
According to Mizzou’s website, Robinson was a three-star high school recruit who was ranked as high as the 39th strong-side defensive end by Rivals.com.
Multi-sport athlete
Robinson, who starred in football and basketball at Canton, was primarily a basketball player at Canton Prep before he transferred to the Division 1 school for his junior and senior years.
If Robinson doesn’t return for his fifth year of eligibility in 2023, his final college game will be the Gasparilla Bowl, which is set to kick off tonight at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
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