Through three games, Penn State has found a weapon capable of changing a game without ever touching the ball on offense.
Zay Robinson is quickly becoming one of the Nittany Lions’ most valuable pieces on special teams.
The redshirt freshman was named Penn State’s special teams player of the game following Saturday’s 55-13 win over Buffalo, and the numbers illustrate why. Robinson enters Big Ten play as the national leader with 13 punt returns, totaling 172 yards and averaging 13.2 yards per return.
Against Buffalo, Robinson provided the most convincing glimpse yet of what he can become.
Penn State piled up a season-high 573 yards of total offense, but Robinson repeatedly made life easier for that unit before it ever took the field. He opened the afternoon with a 38-yard punt return and finished with eight returns for 109 yards, including two of more than 30 yards.
Twice, Robinson handed the offense possession in Buffalo territory. Penn State turned those opportunities into 10 points.
That is the hidden value of a dangerous returner. Robinson doesn’t need to take one to the end zone to influence the scoreboard.
“When you’re talking about winning field position, being great in special teams, having the ability to, you know, even just get a first down on a punt return, those things are awesome,” Penn State coach Matt Campbell said. “I think our kids really believe in special teams and the value of that.”
Robinson’s emergence isn’t entirely surprising to Campbell.
The two were together at Iowa State last season, where Robinson’s four-game redshirt limitation created a dilemma late in the year. Campbell believed Robinson might already have been among the Cyclones’ most talented receivers, but preserving his redshirt limited his opportunities.
Campbell instead got an up-close look at Robinson on the scout team.
“He was an absolute menace last year down there because of his competitive excellence,” Campbell said. “And you got to see how dynamic he is with the ball in his hand.”
That explosiveness is now translating to Saturdays.
Robinson didn’t begin returning kicks until high school. As he learned the position, he studied arguably the greatest returner ever, Devin Hester, paying particular attention to Hester’s explosiveness. Robinson also studies former Iowa State standout Jaylin Noel, who has become another example for him at the position.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.But Robinson’s success isn’t simply a matter of speed.
“At first, I’m really just seeing how the ball’s kicked, seeing if it’s like a run job or it’s carrying, seeing how the ball is spinning,” Robinson said. “It’s a lot going into the returns, but then kind of just seeing the gunners and the jammers are the biggest for me because those are probably the fastest guys on the field.”
That processing ability is what can separate a return specialist from a fast player placed deep to field punts.
Through three games, Robinson has shown both.
He returned three punts for 41 yards against Marshall and two for 22 yards at Temple before exploding against Buffalo. Robinson has also handled three kickoffs for 58 yards, including a 34-yard return in the opener.
PFF has rewarded the overall body of work with a 71.1 return grade and a 79.2 punt-return grade through three games.
Campbell sees the same development offensively. Robinson has five receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown, with Campbell pointing specifically to what happens after the catch as evidence of his growth.
“We did challenge Zay to take the step forward if we were going to be the team that we wanted to be,” Campbell said. “And I think he’s answered the call so far.”
Now comes the next test.
Penn State’s nonconference schedule gave Robinson an opportunity to establish himself. Big Ten play will offer fewer easy yards and place greater importance on field position.
That could make Robinson even more valuable.
A return touchdown hasn’t arrived yet. Robinson believes one is coming. But three weeks into the season, he doesn’t need one to prove he is already making a difference.
“For me,” Robinson said, “just another day in the office.”
