Corey Robinson II making instant impact on Arkansas’ O-line

FAYETTEVILLE — When Corey Robinson II opted to leave Georgia Tech and attend Arkansas most observers realized the Razorbacks were getting one of the top recruits in the transfer portal.

Robinson, 6-5, 307, has stepped in at left tackle allowing Fernando Carmona to move inside to left guard or possibly center. Robinson looked back on why he chose the Razorbacks over the numerous offers he had.

“For me it was the players on the team and the coaches,” Robinson said. “Immediately getting here on my visit, (Eric) Mateos, Taylen (Green), Carmona, (Keyshawn) Blackstock, they were all showing me a lot of love. Really just showing me how they believed I could fit in here with the team. It felt very genuine. I could see like a true family here. That’s what stuck out a lot to me and influenced my decision.”

Carmona, who played left tackle last season, recently praised Robinson.

“Man, he is a special talent,” Carmona said. “He’s helped me a lot during these winter workouts. We’ve been coming in every Saturday together and he’s just been helping me a crap on on my pass pro. Like, he’s really just diligent in the way he thinks and he operates, so he’s brought this veteran presence and it’s been great for the room.”

Robinson agreed that working with Carmona has been a great experience.

“It’s been good, and we really bounce ideas off each other,” Robinson said. “He’s really talented, as well. But having the experience, you do learn some things. We were just in the indoor facility one day, both just coming to get some work in. From that day forward, it was like every weekend we were going in there together and just going to work. But it’s been really good, and being able to like to be an influence to help some of the younger guys, it’s been good for sure.”

While the Hogs returned their left tackle, that didn’t worry Robinson since he was in contact with Arkansas about that.

“Pretty much as soon as I hit the portal and Coach Mateos reached out, Fernando did too,” Robinson said. “He told me right away, ‘I’m playing tackle now, but I’m trying to move inside.’ He told me exactly why and why he felt like that was best for his future and his career. When I came here and really talked to Coach (Sam) Pittman and Coach Mateos, I understood the situation. That also helped contribute to my decision.”

His season at Georgia Tech last season got off to a slow start due a sprained ankle.

“Going into fall camp, was doing well, got hurt pretty early, came back right before the first game,” Robinson said. “My coaches, they felt like it would be better for me to kind of rotate as I started coming back, and I was just doing what I could to help the team. When they felt like they wanted me to come back full time, I was ready.”

Robinson is one of five transfer offensive linemen on the Razorbacks. He feels Caden Kitler, Kavion Broussard, Shaq McRoy and Marcus Dumervil are all adjusting well.

“They look real good,” Robinson said. “One thing I can say about all the transfers here, everybody’s come in ready to work. Shaq, with his size, he moves really well. Caden’s done a really good job really playing center, commanding the offense. Kavion, he’s been learning real quick as well. Everybody definitely came in with the right attitude, coming in just ready to work and contribute how they could.”

McRoy, 6-8, 362, transferred in from Oregon. Robinson laughed when asked if he has ever had an offensive teammate as big as McRoy?

“No, never in my life,” Robinson said. “Shaq is huge. He’s every bit of 6-9.”

Robinson talked about what McRoy brings to the position other than just his obvious size.

“Even though he’s really big, he moves really well,” Robinson said. “Most people his size you don’t really see be able to move as fluid as he can. And he works hard. Some people who are big, that’s a lot of God given talent already that doesn’t have to be taught and they kind of just rely on that. But Shaq works real hard.”

Quincy Rhodes Jr. and Charlie Collins are Arkansas’ defensive ends. They have made a good impression on Robinson.

“Yeah, I would say Quincy and Charlie, for sure,” Robinson said. “They both are real good pass rushers. They move really well, especially Quincy at his size. You would expect more like a power move coming from him, but he can switch it up and give you finesse, as well. On the interior, I would say Ian. He’s been looking real good, too.”

Pro Football Focus rates Robinson the No. 1 pass protector.

“Oh no,” Robinson said. “No sir. I haven’t given up a sack since 2022. I definitely keep up with that, for sure. It’s a focus of mine.”

Robinson admitted that he’s still working hard to get better.

“For sure.,” Robinson said. “Even though my pass pro is — through the numbers — good, it’s still something I work on, as well as the run. Every day I just try to make myself more of a complete offensive lineman. For me, my daily focus is just becoming better more so overall as a complete player.”

Arkansas will hold its spring game on Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m.