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TideSports.com - NOTES: Tomlinson retains locker room wrestling title
It was the matchup everyone had been waiting for. Not the University of Alabama vs. Michigan State, but A'Shawn Robinson vs. Dalvin Tomlinson.
The two Crimson Tide defensive linemen faced off in a wrestling match a few weeks ago, Robinson said last week. The bout pitted Robinson, perhaps the best athlete on UA's defensive line, against Tomlinson, a state champion wrestler during his high school career in Georgia.
Tomlinson had defeated all comers in the UA locker room to this point. Jarran Reed, Daron Payne and D.J. Pettway had fallen to Tomlinson, but Robinson was a different beast. He's listed at 312 pounds to Tomlinson's 294, and he showcased his explosiveness earlier this year when he leapt over an offensive lineman to block an extra point against LSU.
Defensive tackles A'Shawn Robinson and Dalvin Tomlinson wrestled in the Alabama locker room a few weeks ago.
It could appropriately be called a heavyweight match. So what happened?
"We were really going at it, then I got tired," Robinson said. "I was like: 'I'm done with this.' He got me."
Tomlinson kept his title as the locker room's undefeated champ.
He's also gotten plenty of respect for his play this season. Tomlinson hasn't started a game this year, but has played in every contest as a key piece in Alabama's deep defensive line rotation. He has 30 tackles and six pass breakups, the most of any player on the defensive line.
"Dalvin has been great," Robinson said. "Pretty much anybody on the team could start anywhere, at any university … He has the ability to do anything anybody else could do. It's been great to have Dalvin out there on the team and be able to do that."
Part of that can be attributed to his wrestling skills. The grappling techniques, hand placement and body control in wrestling all translate well to defensive line play.
"You have to use technique with your hands and everything," Robinson said. "As a defensive lineman, the offensive lineman is about getting his hands inside. He has the best hand technique."
That technique is what helped him get the best of Robinson. The match lasted about two rounds, Robinson said. Tomlinson had said earlier this season he thought he'd win a match between the two.
There may be another challenger yet for Tomlinson. Sophomore Da'Shawn Hand hasn't had his turn yet.
"Da'Shawn took wrestling too, so we're waiting to see that, but they won't let that happen," Robinson said.
- See more at: TideSports.com - NOTES: Tomlinson retains locker room wrestling title
It was the matchup everyone had been waiting for. Not the University of Alabama vs. Michigan State, but A'Shawn Robinson vs. Dalvin Tomlinson.
The two Crimson Tide defensive linemen faced off in a wrestling match a few weeks ago, Robinson said last week. The bout pitted Robinson, perhaps the best athlete on UA's defensive line, against Tomlinson, a state champion wrestler during his high school career in Georgia.
Tomlinson had defeated all comers in the UA locker room to this point. Jarran Reed, Daron Payne and D.J. Pettway had fallen to Tomlinson, but Robinson was a different beast. He's listed at 312 pounds to Tomlinson's 294, and he showcased his explosiveness earlier this year when he leapt over an offensive lineman to block an extra point against LSU.
Defensive tackles A'Shawn Robinson and Dalvin Tomlinson wrestled in the Alabama locker room a few weeks ago.
It could appropriately be called a heavyweight match. So what happened?
"We were really going at it, then I got tired," Robinson said. "I was like: 'I'm done with this.' He got me."
Tomlinson kept his title as the locker room's undefeated champ.
He's also gotten plenty of respect for his play this season. Tomlinson hasn't started a game this year, but has played in every contest as a key piece in Alabama's deep defensive line rotation. He has 30 tackles and six pass breakups, the most of any player on the defensive line.
"Dalvin has been great," Robinson said. "Pretty much anybody on the team could start anywhere, at any university … He has the ability to do anything anybody else could do. It's been great to have Dalvin out there on the team and be able to do that."
Part of that can be attributed to his wrestling skills. The grappling techniques, hand placement and body control in wrestling all translate well to defensive line play.
"You have to use technique with your hands and everything," Robinson said. "As a defensive lineman, the offensive lineman is about getting his hands inside. He has the best hand technique."
That technique is what helped him get the best of Robinson. The match lasted about two rounds, Robinson said. Tomlinson had said earlier this season he thought he'd win a match between the two.
There may be another challenger yet for Tomlinson. Sophomore Da'Shawn Hand hasn't had his turn yet.
"Da'Shawn took wrestling too, so we're waiting to see that, but they won't let that happen," Robinson said.
- See more at: TideSports.com - NOTES: Tomlinson retains locker room wrestling title
