Penn State football has its first opt-out of the 2023 Peach Bowl, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 30 at noon against Ole Miss in Atlanta.
It’s Chop Robinson, a star defensive end who many project will be a first-round pick in the 2024 Draft.
Thank you Penn State! 💙#44out pic.twitter.com/xnqntV57DJ
— Chop (@chopyoungbull) December 5, 2023
Robinson is one of Penn State’s best players and has been since early in his first season with the program, which was last year.
Days after the 2023 regular season ended, the Big Ten named Robinson a unanimous first-team all-conference selection. He ended the year with Robinson has 15 tackles (12 solo), two forced fumbles, four sacks, a pass breakup, a fumble and five QB hurries.
Robinson was also excellent for Penn State in 2022. That season,
Robinson’s played earned him unanimous All-Big Ten honorable mention as well as Penn State’s Reid-Robinson Outstanding Defensive Lineman Award along with Adisa Isaac. Robinson played in 12 of Penn State’s 13 games, missing only the team’s White Out win with Minnesota due to injury. He ended the season with 26 tackles (19 solo), 5.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a recorded fumble.
Before coming to Penn State, Robinson spent a season at Maryland. PSU heavily recruited the star from Maryland’s Quince Orchard High School, but Robinson initially chose to stay in-state.
Robinson showed some promise in his year at Maryland, making ESPN’s Midseason True Freshman All-American Team. He ended the year playing in all 13 games and making his first college start against Indiana Oct. 30. He ended the season with 19 tackles (12 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, the first coming against Kent State Sept. 25. Things weren’t perfect at Maryland, however. Robinson entered the transfer portal in April and committed to Penn State April 12, 2022.
Robinson is the first Penn State player to opt-out of the Peach Bowl. We’ll see if others follow.
