KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – It always feels good to get back on the field and contribute alongside your brothers, and in Saturday’s 24-14 win over Auburn, Tennessee defensive lineman Nathan Robinson was in that position.
Robinson hadn’t played since Georgia Tech, after battling an injury that kept him sidelined for Kennesaw State and Texas. He came into Saturday with four tackles on the season.
“It was a blessing,” Robinson said Monday during media availability. “As far as that play goes, first of all, all glory to God, just getting me to a spot over the past few weeks, getting me back to a place where I could go out and be a contributor again.
“It was frustrating not being out there these previous two weeks, but He just kept me going. And then when He gave me that opportunity, just allowing me to seize it, it was kind of relieving.”
Leaning on his faith, Robinson not only returned to the field but made one of the biggest defensive plays of the day, a key fourth-down stop with 6:34 remaining in the game with Tennessee up 17-14. Auburn went for it deep in its own territory and was stuffed.
Robinson explained what he saw that led to the play.
“Well, they brought in that extra tackle, and throughout the year, that was their tush push type thing,” he said. “So I’m in a four-point stance. Y’all saw the video, bear crawling off because that’s what we do on sneaks, and then I see him open his hips to toss it, and I’m like, ‘Oh crap.’ I’m on all fours still. So luckily I was able to keep my feet and spring out of that and go chase it down.”
Robinson, along with Jeremiah Telander, dropped Auburn running back Jeremiah Cobb for the turnover on downs, and DeSean Bishop carried Tennessee on the ensuing scoring drive to put the game away.
Tennessee heads to Arkansas this weekend, where the Vols haven’t won since 2001. I was actually there as a 13-year-old on that stormy night in Fayetteville, which saw a couple of weather delays. The then-No. 8 Vols beat Arkansas 13-3 in that game. It was the first game in a renovated and expanded Razorback Stadium.
“We talked about it this morning,” Robinson said. “Tennessee hadn’t won down there since 2001, but Coach Bono [John Bonamego] made a great point. He said this team has never lost there. So we’re expecting their best, and we look forward to it. But it’s going to be a physical matchup because, again, that’s their brand.”
No. 15 Tennessee and Arkansas kick off Saturday, Oct. 10, at 4:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. CT at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The game will be televised on the SEC Network with Matt Schumacker on play-by-play and Aaron Murray as analyst. Taylor Davis will report from the sideline.
