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Alabama lands Sunshine State DB
Alabama landed one of the top defensive backs in the state of Florida on Monday. He breaks down his decision to roll with the Tide.
247sports.com
Alabama’s first 2020 commitment of the New Year is in as 3-star cornerback Jahquez Robinson has pledged to the Crimson Tide following a Junior Day visit to Tuscaloosa.
The Jacksonville (Fla.) Sandalwood product’s decision to commit was actually made during a sit-down meeting with Nick Saban on Saturday.
“I just felt a good vibe from it,” Robinson told BamaOnLine of his first-ever tour of Tuscaloosa. “I’m kind of a low-key guy, so everything around it … it wasn’t like a big party city. It’s nice, calm and quiet. I was talking to Coach (Nick) Saban and he was telling me what he likes about me. The only thing he gave me that was bad — he told me I have great speed and all that — was that I need to get a little bit bigger. For the greatest coach in football history to tell me that the only problem with me is I need to get bigger … that’s like music to my ears.”
With offers from Florida, Florida State, Georgia and LSU, among others, Robinson felt the Tide was the choice for him.
“Talking to Coach Saban, I just felt that that’s probably the best decision for me so I can challenge myself against the top talent in all of college,” Robinson said.
It’s not just the football aspect of things that won over Robinson and his family.
“[Saban] was big on academics as well,” Robinson said. “He said if you’re not going top 35 in the draft, don’t leave I want you to stay here. He said if we didn’t have as many people leave for the draft as we did, we would have a 97 percent gradation rate. My parents liked that. They actually did more academic stuff on the visit than they did athletics. This is the best Junior Day I’ve ever been on.”
Adding to the appeal of Alabama was the relationship Robinson has been able to develop with outside linebackers coach Sal Sunseri. The two spent a good bit of time together on Saturday.
“It’s honestly like a dream come true,” Robinson said of being committed to UA. “You’re playing NCAA ‘Road to Glory’ and your player gets an offer to Alabama, you’re like, ‘Dang he must be pretty good.’ He’s gotta be good to get an offer from Alabama. That’s every kid’s dream to get recruited by the best team in college football. To be able to commit and play for somebody like that? That’s unreal.”
At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Robinson is rated the No. 38 cornerback in the country, per the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Robinson is commitment No. 11 in the Tide's No. 1-ranked 2020 class.
