Penn State's Chop Robinson Goes for Speed at NFL Combine
The workouts begin Thursday at the 2024 NFL Combine, as the defensive ends and linebackers take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Three will represent Penn State football: ends Adisa Isaac and Chop Robinson and linebacker Curtis Jacobs.
The trio met with the media Wednesday to update their progress and preview their combines. Here's what they had to say.
Chop Robinson wants to run fast
Robinson. Penn State's All-American defensive end, arrived at the combine with specific workout goals, including this number for the 40-yard dash.
"I definitely want to run a 4.4," Robinson told reporters at the combine.
Robinson certainly can put the pedal down. He ran the 40 in 4.47 seconds during spring testing before the 2023 season, which would have been among the top times at the 2023 NFL Combine. With a hot performance Thursday, Robinson can change the narrative around his offseason. Among the biggest was size. Robinson said he arrived weighing 255 pounds, about the same weight he played last season. That might assuage some doubts about Robinson's physical assets.
"This time of year is big on correcting [evaluations] almost," ESPN NFL Draft scout Matt Miller said on a recent conference call. "I’ve never had the top-20 grades on Chop Robinson. I think he’s somewhere right around 45 to 50 for me. My biggest thing is going to be size and strength. I didn’t feel like he played with great strength, especially in the run game, at Penn State."
Robinson also wants to show he can turn speed into power.
"When you so explosive and you get off the ball, especially with a guy like me, a lot of offensive linemen wouldn’t be thinking about speed to power," Robinson said. "... I'm definitely relentless."
Curtis Jacobs wants to be versatile
The Penn State outside linebacker played some inside linebacker at the East-West Shrine Game, something he had not done before. The position move allowed him to demonstrate the kind of versatility Jacobs plans to bring to an NFL roster.
"I felt like I had a really good week," Jacobs said of the all-star game, at which he also ran well.
Jacobs has been intentional with his pre-combine training, working specifically on his strength and speed. That's important for him to demonstrate. However, Jacobs also wants to interview as the consummate teammate as well.
"Everything I do is with intention," he said. "As soon as I step into the building, I'm going to do everything I can to get everyone’s trust, players and coaches. That will be one of the most important things to me."
Jacobs also spoke, interestingly, about shoes. They're his passion, but Jacobs has been building a budget to temper his purchasing habits. He said Penn State's NIL program helped in that regard.
"Penn State was really good with their NIL programs," Jacobs said, adding that he also connected with "a lot of people who were really big in the state of Pennsylvania."
Adisa Isaac has put the injury behind him
Isaac was a revelation last season, leading Penn State in sacks and thriving in former coordinator Manny Diaz's pressure defense. He also put to bed any lingering questions about the Achilles injury that caused him to miss the 2021 season. However, those questions will resurface at the combine, so Isaac has discussed how he went about "figuring out your new body" following the injury.
Isaac also made his resume pitch.
"You're going to get a smart, disruptive, coachable, selfless guy," he said. "You're going to get my all."
Ten Penn State football players are competing at the 2024 NFL Combine, which runs through March 3. Thursday's schedule includes interviews with the defensive backs and tight ends, meaning Penn State's Kalen King, Daequan Hardy, Johnny Dixon and Theo Johnson will meet with the media.
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