On Saturday morning, a major change for the Miami Hurricanes coaching staff was revealed when veteran coach Travaris “T-Rob” Robinson was announced as the Canes’s defense coach. The news was first reported by The Associated Press’s Tim Reynolds and quickly confirmed by an official announcement from the Miami Athletics.
CORAL GABLES, Florida – Travaris Robinson, who has spent the last five seasons as a defensive coordinator / defensive coach in South Carolina, will join the Miami Hurricanes football team as a defensive coach, coach Manny Diaz announced on Friday. Robinson’s hiring is awaiting completion of a standard University background check.
Considered one of the best recruiters in the country, Robinson, known as “T-Rob”, is a native of Miami and has 15 years of experience as a university coach.
“We are very excited to welcome Travaris and his family back to Miami,” said Diaz. “He is a proven defensive coach and an excellent recruiter, who will be an excellent addition to our technical team.”
Last season, Robinson was the mentor of striker Kingsley Enagbare, a selection of the first team’s All-SEC, and full-back Jaycee Horn, a choice of the second team’s All-SEC. In 2019, South Carolina’s defense – led by defensive striker All-American Javon Kinlaw – kept his opponents at 20 points or less in five games. Second-year cornerback Israel Mukuamu received honors from the second All-SEC team, while Jammie Robinson and Zacch Pickens received accolades from SEC All-Freshman for Gamecocks in 2019.
In 2017, South Carolina led the SEC and ranked ninth in the country, with 28 forced turnovers, while occupying the 25th place in points allowed per game with 20.7. Gamecocks scored 11 of 13 opponents with fewer points than the season average. South Carolina tied for 10th in the country in forced turnover with 27 during the 2016 campaign, including 15 interceptions.
Robinson spent five seasons training defenders before arriving in Columbia, SC as a defensive coordinator – first in Florida (2011-14), then in Auburn (2015). The former Auburn Tiger standout started his coaching career in his alma mater, first as a team assistant in 2006, while finishing his undergraduate degree, then as a GA in 2007.
Robinson spent a season each as a defense coach at Western Kentucky (2008), Southern Miss (2009) and Texas Tech (2010) before joining the Florida team.
In his first season in Florida in 2011, Robinson led a UF secondary who was seventh in the country in defense of the pass (166.8), while the defense Gator was in eighth national in the total defense (299.5).
Robinson led a secondary that was one of the best in the country in 2012, ranking second in defense of passing efficiency (95.55) and allowing only seven touchdown passes – the second lowest number in the country. Florida had 20 interceptions this season, good for the seventh national, while safety Matt Elam was a selection of the first All-America team and choice of the draft of the first round.
In 2013, Robinson’s secondary was the seventh national in defense of passes and the eighth in defense of passing efficiency, while the defensive unit was eight in total defense. Under Robinson, Vernon Hargreaves III was an All-SEC freshman and All-America freshman, at the same time that he was named National Defensive Player of the Year by College Football News.
In 2014, in Florida, Robinson again mentored Hargreaves III, who was chosen for the All-SEC core team and named All-America as the core team. Jalen Tabor received honors from All-America freshman and All-SEC freshman. The Gators defense ended the 2014 regular season in ninth place in total defense, 14th in passing efficiency and 23rd in passing.
At Texas Tech, he helped the Red Raiders to an 8-5 record and a TicketCity Bowl win over Northwestern. In his only season at Tech, Robinson had two defensive backs that won the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition and a third that was named a freshman with an All-America honorable mention.
His 2009 Miss Southern team finished in the top four at Conference USA in defense of passing efficiency, interceptions and yards for attempted passing, and he coached the selection of First Team All-C-USA, Eddie Hicks.
Before embarking on his coaching career, Robinson played two seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Auburn recorded a record of 30-19 during his playing career, including a top 20 ranking in the final polls after his senior season. He was chosen the Iron Bowl MVP after registering 12 tackles and breaking a pair of passes to help the Tigers win a 13-9 victory over Alabama when they would defeat Penn State in the Capital One Bowl. He was an AP All-SEC selection of the first team after collecting 92 tackles in total, the second in the team, with four interceptions. He concluded his university career with 166 tackles and five choices.
Robinson was born in Miami and studied at Coral Park High, where he was a letterman for four years and received all state honors as a defensive back and wide receiver. He received his bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Auburn in 2007.
Robinson is married to former Mandisa Skyers; his family includes sons, Tyson Jerod and Travis Jerod, and daughter, Jordyn.
This is too much for Miami to have another top coach on the team. And, with T-Rob appointed DBs coach, he will replace Co-DC / S coach Ephraim Banda, who left for the position of Defense Coordinator in Utah, and also points to CB coach Mike Rumph not. get hired.
As you saw in the statement above, T-Rob is a dynamic coach, with 15 years of coaching excellence to his credit, and one of the best recruiters in the country. For a program that has struggled for a long time to get top talent in the CB position – the last 5-star CB hired by Miami was Tracy Howard in 2012 – getting a recruiter of Robinson’s caliber is a huge and HUGE victory for the Canes.
When he trained in Florida before, I never thought I’d say that, but …