Corey Robinson made a huge leap between his junior and senior seasons, but the 2013 Notre Dame wide receiver commit continued to make major progress throughout his final high school season, according to San Antonio Christian wide receiver coach Brandon Parrott.
“I think it was the development this year of understanding what he could do to make a difference for the team and win the ballgame and it wasn’t always going to be catching balls,” said Parrott.
But Robinson did catch plenty of balls throughout the year and finished his senior season with 67 receptions for 1,414 yards and 20 touchdowns in 12 games.
“It was interesting to see that he just expected 100 yards-plus receiving every week,” said Parrott. “That was great to see that become his expectation. The reality was to win a football game, some nights you have to run the ball more and some nights you’re able to throw the ball more and he embraced that.
“We had our tailback go for well over 1,000 yards as well. On the nights that he knew we were running the ball, he embraced the opportunity to go downfield. He’s an incredible downfield blocker. On the nights that he knew we were putting the ball in the air, he just kept making plays, kept asking for it and kept going up and getting it.”
Parrott has spent plenty of time working to help Robinson approach his potential and is proud to have had a hand in that progress.
“It’s tremendously rewarding,” Parrott said. “I tell people all of the time when somebody talks about the job that I did with him, I say, ‘Well, I didn’t make him 6-5.’
“The most rewarding thing is to see his hard work pay off. He’s a kid who asked to be coached, he asked how he can get better, he asked for additional help. I’ll keep pouring into a kid when they keep asking for more and more and more. To see him do that and to have it pay off with this level of success, it’s a blessing to be a part of it.”
Notre Dame assistant Kerry Cooks stopped in to see Robinson on Tuesday.
“Coach Cooks came in and had a real good visit,” said Parrott. “He went up to the school and met with the family. It was really good.
“I think he was just checking in with Corey and congratulating him on a great season and all of the accomplishments from the season and kind of laying the groundwork for Coach (Brian) Kelly coming in and what that visit is going to look like. It just kind of felt like a congratulatory visit, coming in to celebrate Corey’s season this year.”
Cooks didn’t get to watch any senior film of Robinson while he was there, but they’re going to have it ready by the time he returns with Kelly in a couple weeks. Kelly has been a major attraction as he’s hit schools all week and that’ll definitely be the case when he gets to San Antonio Christian.
“It’s something that hasn’t happened at our place before,” said Parrott. “I think it’ll be a pretty special day.”
Friday will be a special day as well as Robinson will be presented with his Army All-American jersey.
“That’s a big deal and then to follow it up with a visit from the head football coach of the number one team in the country, I think that’s going to turn some heads on campus.”
