DT Bryan Robinson

I thought I'd write about players with the last name Robinson in back-to-back posts for your viewing pleasure. Today it's all about DT Bryan Robinson who's another one of these players who was assigned to the Soul back in October after coming off his best season in the AFL.

In 2011 Robinson played for the Kansas City Command where he found instant success as one of the Command's best defensive players on a struggling Command team that ranked 10th (out of 18) in the AFL for total defense. The Command finished the season with a 6-12 record, but Robinson was definitively one of the bright spots on the squad. Robinson was one of only two players on defense and the entire team to play in all of the 18 games last season. He did this while accumulating 29.5 total tackles and registering 9 sacks (5th best in the league) and 15 tackles for loss (2nd best in the league).

Robinson attended Wesley College for four years where he dominated his opponents every season. The team's record during that span was 44-7 due to Robinson's defensive presence and consistent performance year in-and-out. He registered 47 sacks and 92.5 tackles for loss (both Wesley College and All-Atlantic Central Football Conference records) while being awarded First Team recognition every season and named ACFC Defensive Player of the Year three seasons.

Singing with the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL in 2008 as an undrafted free agent, Robinson made it all the way to the final cuts before being let loose by the club. Robinson surfaced in the arena football ranks in 2009 with the AF2's Manchester Wolves playing 15 games while finishing the season 9th best in total sacks with 10. He then spent some time with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats before playing with the UFL's New York Sentinels in 2009 as well.

In 2010 Robinson signed with the Milwaukee Iron of the AFL only to finish the season with the Cleveland Gladiators. He combined for 18.5 total tackles and 1 sack during his time with both clubs. With a modest performance in 2010, Robinson flew under the radar in 2011 when he signed on with the Command. Channeling his defensive success from college, the former Wolverine of Division III instantly became one of the best young defensive lineman in the AFL. He excelled beyond comparison to his rookie season and looks to continue his success with the Soul in 2012.

Again Robinson brings playmaking ability to a Soul team that's harvesting players just like him for a run at ArenaBowl XXV. I feel like I'm repeating myself in every post, but that's because I am. The Soul are doing a good job at acquiring a mix of veterans and young talent to compliment each other. With the already established relationships with the majority of the free agents, it would be a monumental collapse if this team doesn't qualify for postseason play. This team is that good on paper, but we'll have to see how that translates on the field.