Recruiting Rewind: Tayvion Robinson
The 2020 Hokies enter September with something to prove and there are a variety of key assets this team has who will be called on to be contributors this season. Those key players just 2-4 years ago were being recruited by the staff and had unique journeys to the maroon and orange. In order to get a well-rounded view of the 2020 squad I looked back their recruitment and high school tape and then compared them to current verbal commits the Hokies have in the 2021 class.
Tayvion Robinson: I deem him Sweet Feet Tay (let's get this nickname some traction) was a 5’10’’ WR coming out of the 757 at Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach. He had some serious blue blood interest with offers from Ohio State, Nebraska and Tennessee. Tayvion’s film shows one of the most diverse athletes I have personally watched. Cox had him lined up all over the offense in many different packages. He played quarterback, running back and wide receiver in different formations in high school. As a running back and a wideout he saw many jet sweeps and misdirection run plays where he navigates the blocking well and uses that high class agility to shimmy through holes then shows breakaway speed to beat the defense to the house. The Hokies likely won’t be utilizing him behind center but don’t rule out a double pass or some rabbit out of the hate type plays in which he is involved.
Tayvion showed some promise in the return game in 2019 and it will likely be him as our primary punt returner now. Tayvion will be called upon as the likely WR2 now that Hazleton is a Missouri Tiger. The Hokies need to have Tayvion demand some coverage to eliminate the bracketing of number 1 receiver Tre Turner. If Tayvion continues his upward trajectory,the Hokie passing game could see an uptick in 2020.
2021 Recruit Comparison: Jaylen Jones, WR Thomas Jefferson in Richmond, Virginia
Both of these homegrown in state wideouts show flashes of quickness on their tapes. Jones actually shows better deep ball skills than Robinson does, but he shows he can be used in the misdirection and screen game as well weaving through defenders. Jones is a little more of a pure wideout typically lining up split out in most plays. He has got some breakaway speed and he makes DBs look silly taking the angles they do when he is yards down the field. Jones will likely fill a slot role for the Hokies like Robinson may be asked to do this year. At 6’1’’ Jones has a bit more size and could actually play out wide as well, but both of these players show incredible agility and quickness which is hard to miss on both of their tape.
