Jan. 2, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State first-team All-America wide receiver Allen Robinson (Southfield, Mich.) has decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility and will enter the 2014 National Football League Draft.
The 2012 and 2013 Big Ten Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year, Robinson earned seven All-America honors after a stellar 2013 season. The standout junior was selected a first-team All-American by CBSSports.com, Sporting News and Phil Steele's College Football, a second-team honoree by the FWAA, SI.com and Athlon Sports and a third-team honoree by the Associated Press.
"It was a great honor to play at Penn State," stated Robinson. "I am blessed to have played with, and for, the people in the Penn State football program. This is a decision that I believe is best for my family and I, and I wish all the best to the University and all my teammates."
"We are very excited for Allen," said interim head coach Larry Johnson. "Allen has meant a great deal to our program at Penn State and we wish him all the best and continued success at the next level."
Robinson is Penn State's 98th first-team All-America selection all-time. He is the 84th Penn State football student-athlete to earn first team All-America recognition, dating to W.T. (Mother) Dunn's selection to the Walter Camp All-America squad in 1906.
Additionally, Robinson is the Nittany Lions' 24th first team All-American since starting Big Ten Conference competition in 1993 (28 total selections).
Robinson is the first player since at least 1985 to lead the Big Ten in receptions and receiving yardage in consecutive seasons. Robinson's combined 174 receptions and 2,445 receiving yards the past two years both rank No. 3 in Big Ten history for consecutive seasons.
A semifinalist for the 2013 Biletnikoff Award, Robinson earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media the past two seasons. In Penn State's eight Big Ten games in 2013, Robinson made 71 catches (8.9 avg.) for 984 yards (123.0 ypg), improving on his overall season averages.
The former Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's prep standout led the Big Ten with Penn State season records in receptions (97) and receiving yardage (1,432) for the second consecutive year. Robinson ranks No. 3 nationally in receiving yardage (119.3 ypg) and No. 8 in receptions (8.1 avg.). He had six touchdown catches in 2013 (17 career) and a long catch of 65 yards, which resulted in a touchdown at Ohio State.
Robinson ranks second in school career receptions (177) and third in Penn State career receiving yardage (2,474 yds), with numbers earned almost entirely the past two seasons (3 catches for 29 yards in 2011). His eight 100-yard receiving games this year were a Penn State season record and he made 13 catches of 35 or more yards this season, including four touchdowns of 45 yards or longer.
The Nittany Lions return 15 starters for the 2014 season (7 offense, 7 defense, 1 specialist), which begins August 30 vs. 2014 Fiesta Bowl champion UCF in the Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland.