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What kind of impact does Travaris Robinson bring as a developer?

We know he’s a great recruiter, but how has T-Rob done when it comes to developing defensive backs?

By marshthomas
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 12 South Carolina at Georgia

The hiring of Travaris Robinson as defensive backs coach was a home-run in the eyes of most Miami Hurricanes fans, including me. There’s so much to like about T-Rob coming to UM, and I believe Manny Diaz did a great job bringing him in.

When talking about Robinson, most people will automatically jump right to his talent when it comes to recruiting, and make no mistake, he’s phenomenal on the trail. A native of South Florida, a coach like Robinson will help Miami out tremendously in making sure that some of the top defensive backs in the area stay home.

However, when I look at Robinson, I'm most excited about what he’ll bring to the Canes secondary in terms of developing players, and helping make the jump to the NFL.

If you look at Miami in recent memory, it’s been a while since we’ve had a top cornerback or safety in the country, let alone a high draft pick at either one of those positions.

Miami used to be known as a school who sent safeties and cornerbacks in the first round, such as Ed Reed, Sean Taylor, Phillip Buchanon, Antrel Rolle and Brandon Meriweather, just to name a few.

But since 2011, UM has produced just one defensive back who’s been drafted in the first 3 rounds, Artie Burns in 2016.

The development has been severely lacking in the secondary, when you look at players like Gurvan Hall, Amari Carter, and while Al Blades Jr. and DJ Ivey have had their moments, their not where most fans expected them to be heading into their senior seasons.

Many people were sad to see coach Ephraim Banda depart to Utah State, as was I, as he did a great job recruiting top-notch players, such as James Williams and Kamren Kinchens. Though, having them sign to Miami as a commit is one thing, developing them into high-caliber players at the college level is another.

Robinson has had success there, and plenty of it.

As a defensive backs coach for the Gators from 2011 to 2014, Robinson helped develop Vernon Hargreaves, Keanu Neal and Matt Elam into first round picks in the NFL Draft. He also took a 3-star recruit in Quincy Wilson, and turned him into a second round draft pick.

At his most recent stop at South Carolina, Robinson coached up cornerback Jaycee Horn, who’s being viewed as potentially a first round selection in this upcoming draft.

Robinson comes to Miami now in 2021 with plenty of talent in the secondary, though it’s mostly unproven. Bubba Bolden has the potential to be a first-to-second round selection in the 2022 Draft, Te’Cory Couch is ready to make that next jump as a shutdown cover-corner, and Tyrique Stevenson has all the talent to play on Sundays in the future.

And while some may disagree with me, I still believe a guy like DJ Ivey, who has so many desirable tools you look for in a cornerback, can surprise Canes fans his senior season and become a reliable player for Miami in the secondary.

Looking ahead as well, you take a player like James Williams, or Avantae Williams, or Kamren Kinchens, they have the talent to become studs at the college level, and a coach like Robinson is exactly what Miami needs to help get them there.