Lions Select Tackle Corey Robinson With Seventh-Round Pick
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
ALLEN PARK - As the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft wound down, South Carolina tackle Corey Robinson received calls from the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Washington Redskins, all interested in possibly signing him as an undrafted free agent.
Ultimately, Robinson would not have to decide between them, as the Detroit Lions selected him with the 240th overall pick.
"Just a fantastic young man, very big, played a lot of ball in the SEC, which we've had a little bit of success with that with our recent picks, so excited about him adding depth to our tackle spot," Lions offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn said Saturday.
Washburn said he conducted a private workout with Robinson in April.
The 6-foot-8 Robinson made 35 starts in his college career. His college bio lists him as 344 pounds, but he said he has shed much of that weight since the end of his senior season thanks to help from his agency.
"They just made me change my diet, do some different things," Robinson said. "Still been staying on it. I think at the pro day I was like 318. Just changing the way I eat. I don't really look at it as a diet anymore. It's just part of my lifestyle. I'm just used to it now."
Robinson redshirted as a freshman and then was moved from offensive line to defensive line. His third season with South Carolina, Robinson was moved back to the offensive line and got the nod at left tackle. After becoming the starter that season, Robinson continued in that role as a junior and senior. His brief time on defense, however, had a lasting impact.
"It definitely got me around the right guys, and just to see how they worked, a lot of those guys went on to play in the NFL and still are current players, and I think just learning what defenses like to do," Robinson said. "I was able to pick up on some of the keys, and what techniques they're going to line up in and send blitzes from, so it was good."
Though Robinson played left tackle in college, Washburn said he will play both sides for Detroit. As far as improvement, Washburn said Robinson will simply need to continue the development process he was undergoing in college.
"They do a really good job at developing their guys," Washburn said. "I know their o-line coach, Shawn Elliott, pretty well. He coached my brother at Appalachian State. They do a really good job, and it's just continuing that progression he's on right now."