Washington Redskins Player Profiles: Keenan Robinson

Position: Linebacker

Height: 6'3  Weight: 238 lbs

College: Texas

Drafted: Fourth Round Pick 119th Overall

Keenan Robinson is coming off of an excellent 2014 season. This four-year veteran can have an even better season with the numerous defensive changes happening with the Washington Redskins. Here are five things Redskins fans should know about him:

#1. Keenan Robinson is from Plano, Texas and played his high school football at Plano East Senior High.  In his senior year at Plano, he had 118 tackles, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Here are the accolades he received:

• Prep All-American and three-year starter (primarily at LB as a junior and senior)
• Parade All-American
• All-USA honors from USA Today
• Participant in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl
• Member of ESPNU top 150 national prospects list
• Two-time first-team all-district 9-5A and all-county selection
• 5A all-state honors as a senior
• First-team all-district 9-5A and first-team all-county

He was a four star recruit at outside linebacker in the class of 2007. He ranked as the No. 3 outside linebacker and No. 8 best player in Texas according to the 247 Sports Composite. He received offers from Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State and he chose to become a Texas Longhorn.

#2. He redshirted his freshman year at Texas (2007) and saw no game action. As a redshirt freshman (2008), he played in 12 games at outside linebacker and on special teams. He helped his team reach a first place ranking in the Big 12 for scoring defense (18.8 points per game/18th NCAA), total defense (342.9 yards per game), rushing defense (83.5 yards per game/third NCAA) and second place in pass efficiency defense (124.2 rating). He registered 24 tackles (16 solo), two tackles for loss, a sack, a pressure and a pass break up in addition to leading the team with 10 special-teams tackles.

In his sophomore year (2009) he earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention. He registered 63 tackles, four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and one pass break up. As a junior (2010), he started 12 games at outside linebacker and played on special teams as well.

Here are some of the accolades he received:

• Dick Butkus Award semifinalist
• Second-team All-Big 12 selection by the Associated Press, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and San Antonio Express-News
• All-Big 12 honorable mention by the league and coaches
• College Football Performance Awards Division I FBS National Linebacker Performer of the Week
• Team's recipient of the Ball Hawk Award

In his final year as a Texas Longhorn (2011), he started all 13 games and recorded 106 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one sack, one safety, 13 pressures, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles on the season. He earned the following accolades that year: He led the team with 113 tackles (61 solo), along with eight tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two pass break ups and one touchdown.

Here are his accolades as a senior:

• Butkus Award semifinalist
• Second-team All-Big 12 (Coaches, San Antonio Express-News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
• Honorable mention (AP)
• Holiday Bowl Defensive MVP
• Earned Texas' Dr. Nasser Al-Rashid Strength & Conditioning Award, Joseph W. Moore Tenacity Award for Defense Award and Mike Campbell Most Valuable Defensive Player Award

#3. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft and in his rookie year he played in 11 games and had 11 tackles (9 solo). His season ended early because he tore his pectoral muscle. The same injury happened during the offseason in 2013 so he didn't play at all that year. He came back strong in 2014 with 109 tackles (71 solo), 1.5 sacks, three pass break ups, one forced fumble and one interception. Here are highlights from that breakout season.

#4. As a result of his hard work in 2014, he won the the Ed Block Courage Award. The award is named after Ed Block, the longtime head athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts who was a pioneer in his profession and a respected humanitarian. The first ever Ed Block Courage Award was given in 1978 to Baltimore Colts defensive end Joe Ehrmann. When the Colts left Baltimore in 1984, the focus of the award was shifted to where it is now given to one player from every NFL team. Two of Robinson's teammates won the last two years: Robert Griffin III (2013), and Kory Lichtensteiger (2012). Former teammate Stephen Bowen won in 2011.

#5. According to Redskins.com's Stephen Czarda, Robinson sees defensive chemistry not being an issue:

"I think we’re meshing pretty well because one we have a whole bunch of new faces especially from free agency. You never know how it’s going to go. You never know how the guys are going to buy in, but it’s been great. Those guys are fun. I think we’re closer at this point than I’ve seen as a defense since I’ve been here, and this will be my fourth year. So that’s a good sign, and I think we will only get closer and stronger as we get closer to the season."

Even though the defense has veterans who have the ability to lead, they respect what Robinson brings to the table:

"Those guys respect me as their signal caller because they’re now on a new defense and it’s a new scheme and new faces. So I would say they do respect me and do look to me as a leader as long as with the rest of the guys who have already been here."

Bottom Line: Keenan Robinson is solid linebacker who brings a lot of energy and production to the defense. It will be interesting to see if he can double up on his 100+ tackle season last year. Bold Prediction, he gets 10+ sacks in 2015.