Texas Tech football giving young offensive player a look on defense

During the recruitment of Sean “Rambo” Robinson, much of the intrigue revolved around what position he’d wind up playing.

Arizona, which had Robinson’s commitment for nearly six months in 2024, wanted him as an outside linebacker. The Texas Tech football staff, which ultimately landed him as a signing-day surprise, projected him as a tight end. He’d carried the football, he’d caught the football and he’d chased and tackled others who had.

Determining the best fit for the 6-foot-5, 225-pound redshirt freshman remains an ongoing process.

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Tech coachJoey McGuire said this week the Cibolo Steele graduate will train as a two-way player during spring practice. In addition to his tight-end duties, Robinson is going through some basics with the edge defenders.

“What I’m going to do is let him practice at the first of practice individual (drills), just to see and evaluate his movement and what he can do for us,” McGuire said, “kind of see if it can work out to be able to do it during (preseason) camp and go into the fall with him playing some defensive end.”

Tech is down one tight end for the time being: Senior Jack Esparza suffered a Lisfranc injury during Orange Bowl workouts and isn’t going through spring practice.

“If he was,” McGuire said, “I would move (Robinson) over there (to defense) to see if he could do it full-time.”

Tech used tight end Johncarlos Miller some as a situational pass rusher during games in the 2024 season. The moves aren’t necessarily analogous: Miller’s move was more to help depth when injuries set in. Depending on what Robinson shows, playing defense full-time could take hold.

That Robinson is going both ways was evident during practice on Thursday, March 26, when he got in line with edge defenders such as Adam Trick and Trey White. In a sea of black jerseys that Texas Tech defensive players wear, Robinson was still in the white jersey that offensive players wear.

Asked if Robinson is bought in on the idea, McGuire said, “Oh, yeah. He smiled like crazy — because it’s just a different process. You can really turn it loose and you’re more of an A-to-B player on defense, especially off the edge.

“At tight end … Our tight ends have to do so much. He does a great job, but I just think he could possibly help us at defensive end at some point.”

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech football giving offensive player a look on defense