[BAYLOR FOOTBALL] Christian Robinson to Coach Baylor Inside Linebackers

[Ingram, Brent]

BAYLOR ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS – Dec. 30, 2022

Christian Robinson to Coach Baylor Inside Linebackers
Robinson Named to 2022 AFCA 35 Under 35 List

For more information contact: Brent Ingram; 210-845-8651, brent_ingram at baylor.edu<mailto:brent_ingram at baylor.edu> or Max Calderone; 254-265-1639, max_calderone at baylor.edu<mailto:max_calderone at baylor.edu>

WACO, Texas -- One of the top young defensive minds in college football, Christian Robinson has been tabbed to coach Baylor’s inside linebackers, as announced by head coach Dave Aranda on Friday morning.



Robinson joins the Baylor staff after coaching linebackers at Auburn during the 2022 season, following four seasons in the same position at Florida. He also served as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State (2017), Ole Miss (2015-16) and Georgia (2013-14). Robinson played linebacker at Georgia from 2009-12.



“We are excited to welcome Christian and his wife Kaley into the Baylor Family,” Aranda said. “Christian is one of the top young coaches in the country, who’s commitment to relationships, and the success of the young men he coaches, on and off the field, is an ideal fit for our program.”



A native of Norcross, Ga., Robinson was named to the American Football Coaches Association 35 Under 35 listing in 2022, highlighting some of the nation’s best up-and-coming coaches under 35.



"It is an honor to join Coach Aranda’s staff and represent Baylor University," Robinson said. "We look forward to supporting, encouraging and promoting excellence in everything we do. Life is about relationships and we are excited to foster those in our new home of Waco Texas. Sic ‘Em!"



In 2022, while coaching linebackers and serving as the defensive run-game coordinator with Auburn, Robinson helped Owen Pappoe to a team-leading 91 tackles, including three for a loss with two sacks and two forced fumbles. Cam Riley ranked second on the team with 65 tackles, adding 3.5 for a loss.



Robinson coached linebackers in 2021 for the Gators, helping lead Florida to a fourth-consecutive bowl berth. During his four years at Florida, the Gators ranked fourth nationally in sacks, trailing only Alabama, Clemson and Pittsburgh. The Gators also forced 78 turnovers during Robinson’s four-year tenure, 26th-best in the nation.



In 2021, the Gators totaled 37 sacks, ranking 30th in the nation, and out-sacked its opponents by +23 over the course of the year. The Gators improved defensively in points per game, first-downs allowed, third-down and fourth-down percentage, rushing, passing and total yards allowed.



Individually in 2021, Mohamoud Diabate ranked second on the team with 89 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss with four QB hurries. Brenton Cox Jr. starred for the Gators at outside linebacker, totaling a four-sack game vs. Florida State and going for four tackles for a loss in the bowl game vs. UCF, finishing with 41 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks. Jeremiah Moon was named to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and an Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors Association (currently dubbed College Sports Communicators). Moon was a nominee for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year and a semifinalist for the Senior CLASS Award and William V. Campbell Trophy.



In 2020, Florida’s linebackers shined under Robinson, helping lead the Gators to the SEC Championship Game and a berth in the Cotton Bowl. Miller led the team with 88 tackles, including 7.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks, while Diabate added 69 tackles, including seven for a loss, with an interception and two forced fumbles. Cox and Khris Bogle were tied for second on the team with four sacks a piece. In all, linebackers accounted for seven of the top eight sack leaders for the Gators in 2020.



Robinson helped direct Florida’s defense into one of the nation’s top units in 2019. The Gators finished seventh nationally in scoring defense with an average of 15.5 points. They allowed just 23 offensive touchdowns over the course of the season, tying for the fourth-fewest in the FBS.

Additionally, Florida was one of just two FBS teams to hold five opponents without an offensive touchdown in 2019 - the first time in 11 years that the Gators had accomplished that feat. Florida’s defense also shutout three opponents this season, marking the first time since 1988 that Florida has done so.

In 2019, Florida finished third nationally in red-zone defense, allowing just 23 scores in 35 trips (65.7 percent). It also ranked third in the FBS in opponent red zone touchdown percentage at 40 percent. Florida was also one of the best when it came to rushing the passer, as it ranked fifth nationally with 49 sacks. The Gators’ 49 sacks also led all SEC teams by a whopping 12 sacks. The Gators also dominated in other defensive areas, ranking tops in the SEC in opponent red-zone percentage, sacks per game and tackles for loss per game. UF ranked second in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense.



In 2018 for the Gators, Robinson’s unit was led by Jonathan Greenard and David Reese II. A graduate transfer from Louisville, Robinson helped Greenard made the most of his lone season at Florida. Greenard totaled 52 tackles and led the SEC with 9.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. He forced three fumbles, four pass breakups and one fumble recovery that he took back 80 yards for a touchdown. Greenard’s dominance on the defensive end earned him first-team All-SEC honors by the coaches and Associated Press.



Robinson also helped Reese II to an impressive senior campaign, finishing the 2019 season with 94 defensive stops, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one fumble recovery. Against Kentucky, Reese II recorded a career-high 16 tackles. His presence on defense solidified his selection to the AP All-SEC second team.



The 2018 Florida defense improved ranked 11th in the nation in forced fumbles, 12th in fumble recoveries, 11th in takeaways, 17th in passing efficiency defense, 20th in scoring defense, 33rd in yards per play and 20th in sacks per game. UF also led the nation in fourth-quarter opponent passing efficiency and was second nationally in fourth quarter opponent completion percentage.

Individually, Robinson tutored Vosean Joseph to a career-high 93 tackles, including nine tackles-for-loss, four sacks, five pass breakups and one fumble recovered last season. In addition, Robinson helped Reese II to another standout season as he totaled 77 tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss. Reese was named to the Bednarik Award & Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists during the season.

Looking back to Robinson’s time in Oxford when he worked with the defensive line, the Rebels ranked in the top three among SEC teams in tackles-for-loss (8.1/game - seventh in NCAA), interceptions (15 – tied for 23rd in NCAA) and takeaways (23 – tied for 38th in NCAA).

Most notably, Robinson tutored 2015 Hornung Award finalist and first team All-American Robert Nkemdiche, who was taken in the first round (29th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Ole Miss defensive linemen combined for 24 sacks that season, led by a school record-tying 10 from sophomore Marquis Haynes.

Haynes entered the 2016 season with much acclaim, as the Jacksonville, Fla., product was ranked the 81st best collegiate player overall by NFL.com and as the No. 8 defensive end by Lindy’s. By the end of the season, Haynes tallied seven sacks, 11 tackles for a loss, eight QB hurries and three forced fumbles.

Robinson began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2013 as a defensive graduate assistant and quality control assistant. During the two-year span (2013-14) he spent in Athens, Ga., the Bulldogs led the SEC in turnover margin and ranked among the nation’s best pass defenses in 2014.

During his playing career, Robinson saw time in 51 games with 17 starts as a linebacker from 2009-12, compiling 159 tackles, 22.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks. He was a part of back-to-back SEC Eastern Division title teams in 2011 and 2012.



Robinson, who is married to the former Kaley Crook, earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Georgia in 2012. He is the son of former NFL player and high school coach Ken Robinson and Lori Robinson. He attended mini-camp with the St. Louis Rams before embarking on a coaching career.



Robinson File



COACHING CAREER

2023

Inside Linebackers

Baylor

2022

Linebackers/Run-Game Coordinator

Auburn

2018-21

Linebackers

Florida

2017

Graduate Assistant – Defense

Mississippi State

2015-16

Graduate Assistant – Defensive Line

Ole Miss

2013-14

Graduate Assistant – Defense

Georgia



BOWL/POSTSEASON GAMES

2021 Gasparilla Bowl – Florida (Linebackers)

2020 Cotton Bowl – Florida (Linebackers)

2020 SEC Championship – Florida (Linebackers)

2019 Capital One Orange Bowl – Florida (Linebackers)

2018 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl – Florida (Linebackers)

2017 Taxslayer Bowl – Mississippi State (Graduate Assistant)

2015 Sugar Bowl – Ole Miss (Graduate Assistant)

2014 Belk Bowl – Georgia (Graduate Assistant)

2013 Taxslayer Bowl – Georgia (Graduate Assistant)



- BaylorBears.com -


--
Brent Ingram | Assistant AD for Communications
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 210-845-8651

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