Interview: Unlimited Ceiling for Arizona 4-Star 2023 TE/WR Duce Robinson
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The matchup nightmares Duce Robinson brings to the gridiron, it is hard to not invoke thoughts of Florida’s Kyle Pitts or Ole Miss tight end Kenny Yeboah. Robinson is that gifted athlete that has the soft hands of power forward and the skillset of a receiver inside a tight end’s body. The 6-6, 220-pound, rising star for Arizona’s Pinnacle High School, ended his six-game sophomore season with 27 receptions for 347 yards with two scores adding one touchdown on the ground. The postseason attention has added to the 4-Star’s recruiting status earning first team All-District and second team All-Region with 10 offers extended.
In an RNG first-look conversation, Robinson breaks down his play during his sophomore campaign with a look ahead to his offseason workouts and recruiting process.
Interview
Duce, there are certain players who have that special something on the field making the game look easy. The way you work as a receiving threat is fun to watch. How were your skills utilized within the Pioneers’ offense during the 2020 season?
Our offensive coordinator was extremely good. I think he did a really good job within our offense using everyone to their best. Our quarterback is a very good running threat, he’s a dual threat. The coaches let him use his feet and arm, we have another great receiver they let work a lot, and they got me spaced out a lot getting a lot of one on ones.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I see some basketball skills in your game.
Yes, sir. I am also a basketball and baseball player.
Are the Pioneers in-season with basketball now?
We start Jan. 18. That’s our first game. Right now, we are just practicing.
Tying this back to football, you catch the ball cleanly with your hands, go up for jump balls in the end zone like you are taking in a pass on the blocks, and show great concentration securing passes. You also seem unphased by defenders hanging on you, like a player in the low post. What are some of the other strengths to your game as a receiving threat that I am missing?
I think it is always nice, not a lot of corners are as tall and as physical as me. For linebackers, I’m not sure there are a lot that can keep up with me. I have that size and speed mismatch.
Where all did you line up within the offensive scheme this season?
For the most part I was out wide, I was in the slot a little bit, and some at tight end.
Being in tight or at receiver, how did your blocking improve overall during the 2020 season?
My coaches helped me a lot. I worked on it hard throughout the offseason, but I have a long way to go with it.
Over the offseason, what will you focus on with your football workouts?
I am always trying to get faster. My dad is a trainer, he helps me out a lot. I have been focusing on getting more athletic all around.
What position specific work will you do this offseason?
I will work on route running and leveraging the corners. I need to learn more about the defensive side of the ball, that way I know what they are running and use it to my advantage.
Going into recruiting. Which schools are showing interest but have not offered yet?
I have been talking to different schools all over the country, some from every conference.
How many offers do you have now?
I have 10 offers.
Robinson’s Offer Sheet: Arizona State, Arkansas, FAU, Florida State, Iowa State, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, San Jose State, and UNLV
When visits pick back up in 2021, are there any programs you’d like to go see?
It has been weird with COVID, you don’t know which schools will let you go visit. I hope to take a bunch of visits all over the country in 2021. I’d like to go down south, I’ve never really been there, to see what it is like. There are some visits in the Midwest and out west I’d like to take too.
Duce, I appreciate your time today. Wishing you and the Pioneers success on the hardwood this season.
Thank you.
Photo credit: Robinson family; Duce Robinson