Tyree Robinson Overcomes Suppression to Sign With the Michigan Panthers
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He’s the best football player ETSU has had since Gerald Sensabaugh. Yet few recognize him as such, and the reason why is likely also a reason for the Buccaneers’ football and basketball demise.
An injustice has been corrected.
A wrong has become a right.
Tyree Robinson, the best player ETSU has had since reinstating football in 2015, is now a professional.
This week the former Buccaneers safety signed with the Michigan Panthers. It is likely a product of Steve Brown, the Panthers’ defensive coordinator who coached Robinson as ETSU’s secondary coach, but that’s fine. Robinson deserves a break.
He is also a case study in all that plagues the Buccaneers.
It may be difficult for someone to believe a safety could be the difference between a team winning a championship and finishing in last place, but that’s what Robinson was.
In 2018 Robinson had a monster season. He defended 15 passes, broke up nine, and intercepted six more. He finished fourth on the team in tackles and only three players on the Buccaneers even scored more touchdowns than Robinson did, with no wide receiver or tight end exceeding him.
Robinson was named to the Associated Press FCS All-American team as ETSU won their first conference championship in 37 seasons, finishing 8–4 overall.
The next season, Robinson suffered through injuries, missing more than a third of the season and ETSU finished in last place in the Southern Conference.
The pattern continued for Robinson in later seasons, though. The following season, shortened and delayed by COVID-19, Robinson helped ETSU exceed their winning percentage of 2018 with a 5–2 record.
The Buccaneers’ season highlight was beating eventual conference champion Virginia Military, 24–20, the Keydets lone regular season loss of the season.
