Zay Robinson is making his presence felt early in Penn State’s fall camp, and the early returns have been loud enough to stand out in a crowded receiver room.
Robinson, who spent his true freshman season at Iowa State before following Matt Campbell to Happy Valley, drew strong praise after Saturday’s scrimmage. Taylor Mouser, who coached him at Iowa State last year and now serves on Penn State’s staff, said Robinson was the MVP of the session and delivered the longest touchdown of camp so far.
“He was phenomenal,” Mouser said. “We move him around from the slot to the outside. He’s been our swing guy who plays tight end in our 10-personnel (sets) … He can just bounce around.”
That versatility has been part of the appeal from the start. Campbell, speaking earlier this month at his first local media day press conference as Penn State’s head coach, compared Robinson’s situation to the one Koby Howard faced a year ago.
“I think Zay Robinson is a young guy that kind of similar to what Koby was,” Campbell said. (It) sounded like what everybody was talking about Koby a year ago here.
Zay had the same conversation going on at Iowa State. Man, this really talented young guy, huge flashes of success during fall camp and the season during practice.
And I think was kind of waiting for his opportunity to emerge onto the scene and was really close… I think Zay is in the same boat where, man, what can he consistently show up and do?”
Campbell also pointed to Robinson’s physical tools back in media day comments, saying, “Can really run,” Campbell said, “can really stretch the field vertically. Man, (he) has the ability to get in and out of his cuts and do some really great things.”
Mouser said he pushed Robinson at the end of spring camp, asking him “to be better” because of how competitive he is.
“Because he’s one of our most competitive guys,” Mouser said. “And he rose to the challenge, and he’s done a good job of making contested catches in the middle of the field, out on the outside. I’ve just been impressed with his ability to turn himself into a pro with how he prepares every day.”
Time will tell whether Robinson can turn those flashes into consistency, but for now he’s giving Penn State plenty to like in camp.
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