Pat Narduzzi expressed his excitement in seeing Tyreek Robinson play against Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl this week, and Robinson, in turn, announced that he won’t just be playing against Toledo.
Robinson — a 5-foot-10, 170-pound wideout from Shreveport, La. — announced Saturday on social media that he will return to Pitt for his second season.
He wasn’t a major contributor in his true freshman season, playing just four games before dealing with a late-season injury, but he’s someone to watch against Toledo — and next season as he has an entire offseason under his belt.
Robinson caught his one target this season, a 20-yard catch against Syracuse. And he was far more active on special teams, returning six kickoffs for 132 yards (22 yards per return) with a long of 35 yards.
He was particularly effective against SMU, returning his three attempts for 81 yards.
Robinson was prepared to go to Southeastern Louisiana last winter before he started to hear from offensive coordinator Kade Bell and former wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood. Bell took a home visit last January, Tyreek Robinson returned the favor and visited Pittsburgh with his family and committed afterward.
He wasn’t a highly recruited prospect, and he didn’t arrive in Pittsburgh until after his senior track season at Evangel Christian Academy, but he made it count upon arriving. And now he’s in line for an increased role in his second season. The GameAbove Sports Bowl could be a sneak peak.
He played just four games this season, missing time late in the season due to injury, so he’s entering his season as a redshirt freshman.
Pitt is losing lead wideout Konata Mumpfield next season, and while Kenny Johnson is slated to return (offering a potential leading wideout), it’s a wide receiving corps that got worse as the season progressed.
Johnson, Poppi Williams, Censere Lee, Zion Fowler-El and Robinson are the wideouts in line for playing time right now, but it’s clear the coaching staff will look to add to the room.
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