Senior Feature - Jamonte Robinson
11/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 11, 2001
By Kyle Parrish
MU Media Relations Office
Talk to him for only a few minutes and you will know.
Jamonte Robinson is Missouri Football.
A 6-foot, 220-pound middle linebacker, Robinson embodies the heart of the team just as much as he does the heart of the defense.
"I've been here for four years," said Robinson, a captain. "This has had the biggest impact on my life. My experiences here have sculpted me for the rest of my life. Just being a part of this team with such great fans up here in Missouri, and to be elected captain of it all has been astonishing."
Although Robinson might feel he has gained a lot from his experiences as a Tiger, he has given an equal amount back to the team.
Over the past four years, he has racked up enough tackles to place him on the school's all-time top five list. Entering today's game against Baylor, Robinson is fourth with 372 tackles and needs 44 tackles in the final three games to overtake DeMontie Cross as Mizzou's all-time leader.
"Missouri is one of the oldest programs in the nation," said Robinson. "To know that all those guys played before me and that I can actually get into the record books in a statistic with such a long record - it's amazing!"
Whether or not he sets the record, Robinson will definitely leave a mark on the Mizzou program. For the last three years, the starting middle linebacker position has been all but locked up for Robinson, a native of St. Petersburg, Fla. He is not the biggest guy on the field and is probably not the best physically suited for middle linebacker, but Robinson has been a playmaker for the Tigers in each of the last four seasons.
"When I came to fall two-a-days during my freshman year, I was expecting to be redshirted," said Robinson. "But I just strapped it on and went at it. I was making plays I didn't even know I had the ability to make. Looking back, and thinking about how big I was and where I was strength-wise, I don't even know how I made it through the season."
Those plays continued even after Robinson's freshman year as he moved into a starting role as a sophomore and has not given it up.
Robinson's lack of size again proves that he embodies what Missouri Football is all about. Even now after he has added over 20 pounds to his frame since his freshman year, Robinson approaches the game in a different way from most linebackers.
"It's all about heart ... but I would never try to take on an offensive lineman like bigger linebackers do," he said. "A lot of linebackers try to hit or take on a big offensive lineman. I've never seen a lineman carry the ball, so they are not my priority. I try to use my size and speed as an advantage in being elusive."
While that approach may be different, Robinson's success is as great as any player in the Big 12. He continues to lead the team both as a captain and a playmaker.
National Football League scouts have even noticed that ability and are evaluating Robinson for a possible career on the football field. He performed workouts for scouts at the conclusion of last season and will probably see even more interest after this season. Robinson's focus, however, will remain on Missouri Football for the time being.
"My main priority is to do what I can for this team to win out and go to a bowl game," said Robinson. "Once that happens, I will concentrate on my life after Missouri Football. Hopefully, I can have a career in the NFL. I know I have the determination and skill to do it, but I have to prove it."
If Robinson can perform anywhere near the level he is playing at now, he will definitely turn some NFL scouts' heads.
Like a true leader, the team comes first for Robinson. His sacrifice for the team is apparent.
Although he averages 14 tackles per game in conference play, Robinson cannot greet others with a handshake due to the severe pain in his broken right hand. He does not complain about it, but treats it as part of the job. For four years, Robinson has played a position meant for men larger than him, but he has prospered for the team.
The balance of the season schedule for Mizzou Football will be difficult. Today's game against a resurgent Baylor team will be followed by away games at Kansas State and Michigan State.
Winning out under such circumstances will be a chore for the Tigers, but not an impossible one. With Jamonte Robinson leading, the team could not be better off. His experience facing difficulty is superior. His determination to win for the team is unmatched.
He is Missouri Football.
