Collegiate Times

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson (16) looks to pass in the third quarter against Massachusetts at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Saturday, September 15, 2012. Michigan defeated UMass, 63-13. (Julian H. Gonzalez/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

Marcolini

There are dangerous athletes across the country.

Oregon’s De’Anthony Thomas, Ohio State’s Braxton Miller ... even the Virginia Tech’s own Marcus Davis come to mind. But there is one thing most of them have in common: they are young (Thomas) and/or haven’t been consistent (Miller).

Seemingly, the old guy is always forgotten in the search to find the best playmaker in the country. We all like to find the shiny new guys to heap praise on, and eventually get bored with the players that have been threats for years.

That’s why I’m going with Denard Robinson as the most dangerous player in college football.

Sure, he kind of looks like a hobbit, and the whole shoelaces thing is probably the most overplayed story this side of Tim Tebow, but there is a short list of quarterbacks that run a 40-yard dash faster than most receivers and running backs, yet can also throw the ball with precision.

Every time a quarterback like that comes along there always seems to be drawbacks about his accuracy, throwing mechanics or some other pro-football mumble jumble.

When you watch Robinson rip off 50-yard runs like he’s taking a stroll, you tend to forget about all of that. Not only is he explosive, but also has been consistent his entire career. Let’s look at his body of work.

In two and a half years as starting quarterback at Michigan, Robinson has accounted for 90 touchdowns. NINETY. Sure, people can hate on him for his inaccuracy as a passer, but when you run for over 200 yards (as he has done five times in his career) it makes up for it.

He also has over 4,000 career rushing yards and over 6,000 career passing yards. Anyone who can sum up those kind of numbers will go down in the books as a legend in college football.

Those numbers are not only impressive at first glance, but even more so when remembering that he used to be the only weapon on his team.

For the past three years, Robinson has had to go up against defenses that have made specific game plans to try to contain him, but has put up ridiculous numbers anyway (502 total yards and three total scores against Notre Dame in 2010, 337 total yards and five scores against Ohio State in 2011).

Robinson’s athleticism has helped transform Michigan from a struggling former
superpower during the Rich Rodriguez era, to Sugar Bowl winner, to preseason top 10 in only three seasons.  That is a pretty big jump for a school that went 4-8 when Robinson was a freshman. (Their record has improved e
very year since Robinson was named starter in 2010.)

If this sport were a video game, no one would be allowed to use Robinson because it would be too unfair. His ability to make something happen when a play breaks down consistently saves his Wolverines from dire situations.

He is the most dangerous man in the game, and has been so for three seasons. 

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A version of this article appeared in the Oct 19 issue of the Collegiate Times.