Demeioun Robinson Confident Terps Can Compete In Big Ten, Land Caleb Williams

Quince Orchard High School defensive end Demeioun Robinson, who recently committed to Maryland, says the Terps are close to competing in the rugged Big Ten and is confident they can land top-rated quarterback Caleb Williams.

Robinson, a consensus four-star prospect, is the highest-rated commitment for Maryland thus far in the Class of 2021. He’s the No. 48 recruit nationally, No. 2 weakside defensive end and No. 3 recruit in the state of Maryland, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. He’s one of 10 commitments in the Terps’ class, and nine are from Washington, D.C., Maryland or Virginia.

A conversation Robinson had with Terps defensive coordinator Jon Hoke and defensive line coach Brian Williams March 8 helped seal the deal. He announced his commitment March 27.

“When I went to the basketball game — it was Maryland vs. Michigan — and before the game, I was talking to my position coach, the D-coordinator,” Robinson said on Glenn Clark Radio April 3. “We were just chatting about how I could make a big difference at home instead of going different places and making a difference there.”

Mining the DMV is part of head coach Michael Locksley’s plan to turn Maryland around. Aside from Robinson, others who are part of Maryland’s 2021 class include St. John’s defensive tackle Taizse Johnson, St. John’s running back Antwain Littleton, St. Frances defensive end ZionAngelo Shockley and McDonogh cornerback Dante Trader Jr.

Those local prospects will face a tall task in the Big Ten East when they get to College Park. Ohio State, a perennial national title contender, has won at least 11 games in eight straight years. Penn State is 56-23 under James Franklin. Michigan is 47-18 under Jim Harbaugh. Michigan State made the College Football Playoff as recently as 2015.

Robinson is unfazed.

“We’re almost there, trust me. We’re almost there,” he said. “When you get a lot of guys to stay home, you don’t have anything to worry about.”

One reason Robinson may be so optimistic is his confidence that the Terps will land Gonzaga quarterback Caleb Williams. The consensus top-rated dual-threat quarterback is considering Maryland, Oklahoma, Clemson, LSU and Penn State. Williams has long aimed to commit to a college before the start of his senior year of high school, but his recruitment is in a holding pattern due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re going to get him,” Robinson said.

Robinson, who called Williams the best quarterback he’s ever seen, said Williams committing to Maryland would encourage the rest of the top local prospects to do the same.

“I soon as I posted my commitment and I saw him repost it, I actually texted him,” Robinson said. “I said, ‘Come on. Don’t wait until it’s too late.’”

As for now, Robinson is the jewel of Locksley’s recruiting class. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Robinson had 14 sacks, 33 quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles as a junior for Quince Orchard in 2019. His highlight film doesn’t disappoint:

Turns out, he’s been wreaking havoc on the gridiron for some time.

“When I was in little league youth football, I was at nose tackle,” Robinson said. “I was playing all around the defensive line and I would just always have the first step before the O-lineman. I was like, ‘Oh, I see now I’m faster off the ball than everyone else.’”

Robinson’s drive on the football field is deeply personal; he lost his sister when he was in first grade and his brother when he was a freshman in high school. When his brother passed away, he dedicated himself to the game and didn’t take what he had for granted.

“When he passed away, I just knew, ‘All right, now this is something I could work for. Now I’ve got to get it for him and my sister that passed away,’” Robinson said.

Robinson said his mother is “the happiest she’s ever been” seeing her son accomplish everything his late brother, known as A-Rod, foresaw years ago. And by staying close to him for college, Robinson will be able to poke in for his mother’s baked mac and cheese, too.

“Now that I’m home, she knows that I’m right around the corner,” Robinson said. “She doesn’t have to worry about anything happening to me.”

With his siblings in mind, Robinson wants to follow in the footsteps of Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs and Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue as high-level DMV prospects who attended Maryland en route to successful careers in the NFL. Diggs is the second-leading receiver in Terps history (2,227 yards), while Ngakoue racked up 21 sacks during three years in College Park, Md.

“Both of them were crazy players, and they did a big thing at Maryland and they’re from this area,” Robinson said. “I can just fill those shoes just like them.”

For more from Robinson, listen to the full interview here:

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Demeioun Robinson (@chopyoungbull) on Instagram

Luke Jackson

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