Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson was drafted No. 21 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday.
After transferring from Maryland, Robinson spent two seasons in State College before declaring for the draft. During his junior campaign in 2023, he recorded 15 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, somewhat of a statistical drop-off from his sophomore season when he had 26 tackles, 10 TFL and 5.5 sacks. Nevertheless, he was a first-team All-Big Ten pick, and solid testing numbers at the NFL Combine — highlighted by a 4.48-second 40-yard dash — paired with undeniable talent, ability and upside saw Robinson continue to hold a spot in the first two rounds on all draft boards.
Robinson was the second Penn State player drafted on Thursday, with offensive tackle Olu Fashanu going at No. 11 in the first round to the New York Jets during the early stages of what should be a busy 2024 draft for the Nittany Lions. Penn State is projected to have as many as 10 draft choices this year, which would tie a program record set in 1996 and break the program’s record of eight selections in a single year under head coach James Franklin, set in 2022.
Former Penn State linebacker Cam Brown is currently the only other Nittany Lion on the Dolphins’ roster as of Thursday night.
Positionally, Robinson is the first Penn State defensive end drafted since Odafe Oweh went No. 31 overall to the Ravens in the 2021 draft, when he and Nittany Lion linebacker Micah Parsons, who was selected at No. 12 by the Cowboys, were both picked up during the first round of the three-day event.
Robinson’s selection is the earliest for a Penn State defensive end since Aaron Maybin was picked No. 11 overall in 2009 by the Buffalo Bills.
