ATHENS — Justin Robinson is far from the highest-rated receiver recruit at Georgia or in the SEC.
But what the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Eagles Landing Christian Academy product lacks in star ratings, he makes up for with his confidence and mere early presence at Georgia.
Robinson is one of six early enrollees from the Bulldogs’ No. 1-ranked signing class, and it sounds like he’s making good use of his time in Athens after overcoming bowl practice nerves.
“It’s a feeling like no other,” Robinson said, asked about how it feels to finally be on the UGA campus in a roundtable interview with former Bulldogs QB D.J. Shockley.
“I came in for bowl practice, I was a little nervous, just getting a feel of everything,” Robinson said. “But the team made me feel like it was home. Being here with these guys, these are like my brothers, I feel like I’ve grown up with them.”
The hope for Georgia football is that Robinson and the incoming receivers — Jermaine Burton, Marcus Rosemy, Arian Smith, Ladd McConkey and tight ends Tre Mckitty and Darnell Washington — will grow quickly in a new offense.
Coach Kirby Smart made it clear at his National Signing Day press conference the Bulldogs aren’t necessarily ready to transform into a Run-N-Shoot offense.
But the addition of Air Raid expert Todd Monken as Georgia’s new coordinator is an indication the offense is headed in a new direction.
Robinson, despite his relatively modest national ranking of 296 by 247Sports, is confident he’s in the middle of that movement.
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And Georgia is too. Despite his ranking, it’s fair to say that Robinson was just as highly sought after by the UGA staff as the other receivers.
Among Robinson’s attributes are his ability to deliver TD-springing run blocks in the open field, high point the ball and win the 50-50 battles.
“Jump ball, I’m going to get it,” Robinson said.
Shockley also asked Robinson about his long-term vision, in terms of measuring up against the Bulldogs’ receivers who are now in the NFL.
“I feel like I’ll be up here with them,” Robinson said. “Coach Hank (Cortez Hankton), he’ s a good coach, and working with Terrence (Edwards), he’s been in the system.”
Edwards has been Robinson’s trainer.
“I feel like they will really put me up there with the great receivers,” Robinson said. “I’ll most definitely be playing on Sundays.”
First things first, Robinson is working on getting himself set up for college football Saturdays.
Georgia’s issues at receiver last season were well documented, with the Bulldogs losing their top five pass catchers from 2018 and then dealing with a series of injuries.
Smart, referred to a “merry-go-round” of receivers as a contributor to the sub-par passing game at the end of the season.
That’s why the Georgia head coach made sure he recruited plenty of horses for what’s expected to be a talented stable of wideouts.
“Wide receiver was an area that we had to address and I’m excited about the wide receivers that we have as additions to this signing class, and those guys are expected to help us,” Smart said on National Signing Day.
“With Justin being here now and going through a couple of bowl practices with us, it’s been a big addition.”
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