Christian Robinson started his press conference on Thursday night by saying he was happy to be wearing Florida blue.
Not long ago, it was widely reported that the Gators’ linebackers coach would be coaching on Michigan’s sideline in 2021. Instead, he earned a raise and will be in Gainesville for another season.
A young and energetic guy, Robinson is a favorite among the players. In an offseason that included several changes to the coaching staff, Florida’s linebackers were happy to have some continuity.
“It would have been a big blow for me,” said junior linebacker Mohamoud Diabate. “Team-wise, football is football, but personally, I feel like I have a connection with my coach. I love him to death, so it would have hurt me to see him leave.”
With all of the rumors and drama of the last few months in the rearview, Robinson is excited to be back on the field with the Gators.
“I’m excited for our team,” Robinson said. “Last Friday, I’m sitting there at practice, end of practice and I’m sitting there, I’m like, I’m excited that we’re here. We didn’t have this last year. This is what building a team is all about. These times where it’s just us, not preparing for an opponent, improving ourselves for the things that are going to come in the fall.”
With no spring or summer, Florida (along with most other programs) lost a lot of time for development last year. Rather than looking back on the negativity and everything the team missed out on, Robinson pointed out that it actually brought his players together.
COVID-19 was and continues to be difficult on everyone, but Robinson used his role to be an encourager and to be there for all of his guys whether they were starters or walk-ons.
“I felt my room improve in those dark times of quarantine,” he said. “We tried to create an environment where, ‘hey this is where you can come and escape being pent up in the house.’ And I think that, that kinda set in motion some of the brotherhood that was shown this season and truly why I love this group of guys.”
While it sometimes appeared Florida’s defense lacked leadership on the field last season, Robinson sees his veterans making strides in that area now. He praised redshirt senior Ventrell Miller in particular.
After a solid season where he led the team with 88 tackles, Miller could have left for the NFL. But he sat down with the coaching staff and decided that he still had more he wanted to accomplish.
That starts with being the voice of reason for the defense. When David Reese left, no one naturally filled his role. Now, Miller has the opportunity to step up for his team.
“The leadership, the things that he does that nobody else sees outside of this building,” Robinson said. “Those are the things that are left for him, and I think he’s gonna perform really well, and lead this defense. I think, you can hear him, even if he’s not in on a play, you hear him talking. And, he’s got unfinished business.”
Alongside Miller, Diabate is another player Robinson expects to excel in 2021.
He struggled at times last season as he transitioned to a new position. But spring is the perfect time for him to settle in.
In three years with the Gators, Diabate has endured multiple position changes, and Robinson said that proved his desire learn and be a special player.
Before spring, Robinson told all of his linebackers to come up with a word for themselves to take into the season. Diabate chose the word “savage”. From the weight room to the field, that is how he wants to be viewed moving forward.
“Obviously guys, we make mistakes,” Robinson said. “But the desire to fix those and to improve and to push yourself forward, that’s what he has. And that’s one of the reasons why our room continues to go forward.”
Then, the Gators have guys like Ty’Ron Hopper and Derek Wingo ready to compete for playing time as well. But right now, Robinson sees the veterans as the lifeblood of the corps.
They are starting to put their hands on the shoulders of the younger players and encourage them when they make a mistake, just like someone did for them years ago, and just like someone did for them before that. And in a few years, those players will do the same for someone else.
No matter the coach, that is a key to the future.
“I think that as coaches we try to build a culture that if you were removed from it that it would still be able to do what you’re trying to do,” Robinson said. “That’s one of the reasons why I love my room and why I’m driven to continue to push that forward and develop leadership amongst my room and the defense and our team.”