SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME SPOTLIGHT: Former Raider Laurent Robinson Had 6-Year NFL Career

was stalwart on Rockledge teams that won back-to-back state championships in 2001 and 2002

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Laurent Robinson was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the top offensive college football player in I-AA. His college legacy culminated in being voted on to the conference’s quarter-century team.

LAURENT ROBINSON – 2015 INDUCTEE

• Division I-AA All-American
• Finalist For Walter Payton Award
• 6-Year NFL Career

ROCKLEDGE RAIDER STAND OUT

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA (Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame) – For Laurent Robinson, his time as a football player at Illinois State was much different than many. 

For him it wasn’t about the wins, it was about the preparation.

“I can remember my college days when the entire team would go out celebrating a big win and I would be in the dorm stretching and getting an early nights rest,” Robinson said.

“It was a lot of little choices I made that separated me from the rest and eventually were a pivotal factor in reaching my lifelong goals.”

It has been a sports life well lived.

Robinson grew up in Rockledge and as a standout wide receiver for the Raiders was a stalwart on teams that won back-to-back Class 3A state championships in 2001 and 2002.

Robinson’s performance in his senior season, in which he caught 55 passes for 903 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named to the Cape Coast Conference first team, earned him a scholarship to Illinois State University where he continued his winning ways.

In his career at Illinois State he caught 192 passes for 3,007 yards, both school records.

Of the receptions, 29 were for touchdowns.

During his junior year, he was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference offensive player of the year and was a consensus Division I-AA All-American.

Though he was hampered with an ankle injury his senior year, missing four games, he still caught 40 catches for 718 yards with seven TDs.

Robinson was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the top offensive player in I-AA.

His college legacy culminated in being voted on to the conference’s quarter-century team.

After running the 40-yard-dash in 4.38 seconds during the 2007 NFL Combine, Robinson was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round.

After a great rookie year, with 37 receptions and an average of almost 12 yards per catch, injuries limited his playing time and in 2009, he was traded to the St. Louis Rams.

Again Robinson started strong, but a broken leg slowed his progress.

“Obviously injuries were a major obstacle during my time in the NFL,” Robinson said.

“It was frustrating not being able to be out on the field and this drove me to do more and become better.

“I would be one of the first players in to work just to get my treatment to make sure I would be getting the best care for my body to speed up my recovery and get back on the field.”

HARD-WORKING, TALENTED ATHLETE

And it all paid off for him in 2011. After being released by San Diego, he was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys.  That season, Robinson had 54 receptions for 858 yards and led the team with 11 touchdowns.

Though his career was cut short the following season due to four concussions during a short stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Robinson is proud of his accomplishments.

“I would like to be remembered as a hardworking, talented athlete. I hope that people will remember the work I put into ultimately reach my desired goal of not only making it to the NFL but also excelling.”

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