Twenty years from now, when people look back at the Kansas football record books, they’re going to see the names of sack leaders Kyron Johnson, Lonnie Phelps Jr. and Austin Booker and smile when they think back about how each of those guys played.
Two were drafted into the NFL. All three got their shot at pro football. And each was mentioned on the short list of the best pass rushers in the Big 12 Conference during their final seasons in Lawrence.
Current KU defensive end Jereme Robinson played with each of them, and as he charges toward his senior season, he’s putting in whatever time he can to put himself on that list with them.
The best way to get there, according to Robinson himself, is through relentless work ethic and the tireless pursuit of perfection.
To find it, he has spent countless hours watching film on all three players, hoping to find those little things in their games that will unlock that level for him, as well.
“I’m addicted to it,” Robinson told R1S1 Sports during Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas earlier this summer. “It’s just been a lot of learning what they were doing, studying their film and always watching it.”
The Montgomery, Alabama native who is now in his fifth year as a Jayhawk has done plenty of positive things on the field to this point. He has appeared in 41 games, including all 13 in each of the past two seasons, and recorded 76 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.
But while filling a role and playing a part has been nice — and important — big No. 90 still has that burning desire to do more.
That’s not ego. It’s eager.
It’s not look at me. It’s watch this.
“I’m looking to take over and lead my D-Line and my defense to the prosperous land,” Robinson said with a huge smile. “I definitely feel like it is my time, but it’s our young cats’ time, too.”
Despite still being somewhat of an unknown, both throughout the Big 12 and in Lawrence, Kansas, Robinson isn’t worried about name recognition.
He feels love from his coaches and teammates and believes that his production is all that matters.
“I think our film speaks for itself and the people who see that see the value in us,” Robinson said. “I don’t think we’re too worried about (being) the face of the team, but I think we are duly respected.”
Robinson said consistency throughout the upcoming season is the biggest key to him becoming the next former defensive end the Jayhawks are talking about replacing.
That means in practice, in games, in meetings, with teammates, in front of coaches and anywhere else he can have an impact during his final season.
“(It’s about) never taking a play off and being one of those guys who’s going to go out there no matter what,” Robinson said. “If I’m needed on special teams, if I’m needed to punch the ball out on a fourth-down situation, just showing that I’m not gonna get tired and I’m playing as hard as I can.”
Of course, there’s more to filling Booker’s shoes — or Phelps’ or Johnson’s — than just being there. Robinson also wants to produce on their level.
Last season, Booker finished with 8 sacks while Robinson had 4.5. The year before, Phelps had 7 sacks while Robinson had 3. And back in 2021 Johnson finished with 5.5 sacks and Robinson had 1.
He missed most of spring practice because of injury but said he’s 100% healthy now and eager to dive into the start of his final season.
Even the injury that kept him out of spring practices was not necessarily a bad thing. Robinson said it allowed him to think beyond the ins and outs of his position and gain a bigger-picture understanding of what the KU defense is all about.
“It was a well-needed chance to help me fine-tune my mental state for football,” he said of the temporary pause. “I talked a lot to Cobee (Bryant), Mello (Dotson) & Marvin (Grant) about what they’re doing back there (in the secondary) and what I can do up front to help them back there.”
As for which former teammate his skills compare to the best?
“My game is more like Lonnie’s than it is Booker’s,” Robinson said. “Lonnie’s more of that twitchy to power type of guy. He has a lot of built-up power in his body. So, with him, it’s just taking those reps and saying, ‘OK how can I mimic him and get off the ball and instantly go into my power.”
“With Book, he has a lot more finesse to him. He knows his leverages and how to get around guys instead of trying to always go through them.”
While it’s fun for Robinson to dream about becoming KU’s next impact pass rusher and following in the footsteps of his former running mates, he actually cares very little about his individual status and very much about the success of the defense as a whole and the team in general.
If the defense does its job and contributes to what many are saying could be a special season at Kansas, Robinson will know he’s done his part no matter what the numbers say.
For him, it’s all about the work and the end result, both of which he is geeked about.
“They’re gonna speak on what the defense is not doing or that we need more of this or more of that, but we’re just gonna keep our heads down and keep working.”
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