Tulsa World: Robinson impresses scouts

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Robinson impresses scouts
Ex-Sooner Duke Robinson works out, shows off new physique.

Duke Robinson tests his vertical leap at Tuesday's pro day in Norman. Paul Hellstern/The Oklahoman

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 3/11/2009 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 3/11/2009 9:42 AM

NORMAN — Duke Robinson stepped off the scale and smiled that enormous smile.

National Football League personnel all whispered and nodded. Everyone, including Robinson himself, seemed impressed not only at his weight, 330 pounds, but his virtually svelte body profile.

Still, Robinson would like to hear your thoughts, too.

"How do you think I looked?" Robinson asked Tuesday after working out for some 40 scouts from 27 NFL teams inside the Everest Indoor Center on the University of Oklahoma campus.

Tuesday was pro day, the day NFL teams convene to watch former Sooners work out — from running 40-yard sprints to bench presses to various jumps, leaps, shuttles and individual position drills.

Robinson's new physique has gotten the NFL's attention.

"No question, he looks good," said one scout. "He does. Look at him. And he's worked hard to get there. I think people will notice that. It means he's not afraid to work for what he wants. He's not lazy. He's a good player, and he knows how to work."

When Robinson arrived in 2006 as a freshman from Washington High School in Atlanta, he was listed at 330 pounds, but he probably was closer to 350 — and a soft, flabby 350 at that. He immediately started reshaping his body and earned playing time in 10 games as a freshman. Over the years, as starts at left guard piled up for the two-time All-American, Robinson continued to add muscle and drop fat.

But his post-OU regimen was cranked up a notch.

The day after the national championship game, Robinson returned to Atlanta and signed up to train with Tony Villani of XPE Sports-Atlanta. As he rehabbed an elbow injury, the pounds started melting away.

"They said he was one of the best," Robinson said. "He put me in that position, you know, big guy, runs fast, jumps high, moves quick. He did it. I'm 330, and he helped me attain those goals that I needed to attain to get to where I needed to be. I put a lot of trust in him and myself and my agent, to put me in the position to be where I needed to be."

Robinson said he actually got his weight down to 325 before adding back some muscle weight. He showed up at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis last month weighing 329 pounds.

"When I went to the combine, I think I shocked them, too," he said. "They liked it. It was kind of hard, losing body fat and gaining muscle back."

Since then, the muscle mass has continued to build, while the fat has stayed off. Robinson said he had a personal chef to prepare his food and monitor everything he ate. That made it easy. The hard part was on him.

"I just came to work every day," he said. "I didn't take a day off. Hurt, sick, flu, I was in there. I was working. I was doing something. Treadmill, stretches, flexibility, everything. I just never tried to take a day off, never let another guy get the advantage on me at my position or any other position."

And what does he see now when he looks in the mirror? Robinson, having impressed the scouts in blocking drills with his newfound quickness and lateral movement, smiled and raised his arms to flex his bulging biceps.

"Zeus. I feel like Zeus," he said. "No, I'm kidding. I think I look pretty good, though."

Official numbers from OU's pro day

Player	Ht	Wt	VJ	BJ	40	20	3C	60	BP
Cory Bennett	6-2 ¼	283	29.5	9-4	4.97/4.95	4.84/4.86	7.90	--	21
Brett Bowers	5-11 ¾	196	32	9-6	4.62/4.63	4.30/4.30	7.10	11.62	14
Branndon Braxton	6-6 ¼	306	26	7-7	5.71/5.70	4.92/4.85	7.75	--	15
Cortney Carter	5-81/8	177	29.5	9-6	4.86/4.88	4.39/4.65	7.31	11.84	5
Quentin Chaney	6-41/8	208	32.5	9-8	4.59/4.62	4.36/4.49	7.12	11.52	--
Jon Cooper	6-21/8	290	31.5	8-9	5.10/5.09	4.60/4.50	7.43	--	32
Alan Davis	6-2 1/8	259	31.5	9-10	4.94/4.96	4.52/4.77	7.75	--	25
Joey Halzle	6-3	213	29	8-10	4.96/5.03	4.58/4.46	7.38	12.09	--
Nic Harris	6-23/8	232	--	--	4.84/4.84	4.23/4.24	7.00	11.44	--
Lendy Holmes	6-01/8	203	35	10-0	4.65/4.65	4.06/4.30	7.26	11.69	--
Juaquin Iglesias	6-07/8	209	--	--	--	--	7.22	--	--
Manuel Johnson*	5-107/8	187	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Mike Knall	5-87/8	182	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
Phil Loadholt	6-77/8	332	28.5	8-9	5.50/5.45	4.77/4.80	8.80	--	26
Duke Robinson	6-5¼	330	31.5	8-3	--	5.00/4.90	8.09	--	20
Brandon Walker	6-27/8	306	34.5	9-3	5.15	4.88/4.98	8.20	--	--
Jacob Gutierrez+	5-6	177	33.5	9-7	4.75/4.69	4.38/4.43	12.01	24
Ian Pleasant+	--	--	--	--	4.72/4.76	--	--	--	--
Darien Williams+	5-10¼	207	34.5	10-1	4.71/4.75	4.24/4.35	--	11.58	18

Key: height, weight, vertical jump, broad jump, 40-yard dash time, 20-yard shuttle time, 3-cone drill, 60-yard shuttle time, bench press reps at 225 pounds.

* Johnson didn't work out because of a hamstring injury

+ Gutierrez, Pleasant and Williams were seniors in 2008 and worked out at pro day for the second time.

John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulswaworld.com By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (3/12/2009 8:56:07 AM)

Go Duke!!

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