Alcorn linebacker leads by example

• By LARRY YOUNG
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Sep 26, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Alcorn State senior linebacker Lee Robinson may have finally shown his coaches what they’ve wanted to see.

Coupled with his veteran leadership, Robinson has played his best football this season with 41 stops, 1.5 sacks and two interceptions in four games. He’s also averaging 10.2 tackles per game.

Not to mention, the 6-foot-3 243-pound man-child’s best performance thus far came in Alcorn’s 13-3 win over Southwestern Athletic Conference foe Arkansas-Pine Bluff as Robinson erupted for nine tackles (two for loss), one sack and one interception.

Robinson garnered SWAC defensive player of the week honors for that game.

“All I do is run to the ball,” Robinson said. “We go over that every day in practice. I just try to use my athleticism and speed to make plays.”

Said Alcorn first-year head coach Earnest Jones, “He’s the leader of our football team and we’ve said all year we’ll go as far as Lee Robinson will take us. This past week he finally stepped up and made everybody around him better.”

Although Robinson recorded 82 tackles and 3.5 sacks in ’07 and 79 tackles and 7.5 sacks in ’06, his coaches are certain Alcorn’s defense will be much improved if he continues playing the way he has so far.

“It all came together this weekend with him playing on the field the way he leads off the field,” Alcorn defensive coordinator Earnest Collins Jr. said. “That’s got to be one of those things Lee continues to do.

“This was a game that I’ve been waiting for him to show me, to play like I know he can play. It’s one of those deals where now I know he can do it, so I expect him to do it for the rest of the year.”

Seeing action at both inside and outside linebacker positions, Robinson leads the team in tackles and interceptions.

“Lee has been a guy we’ve looked to for leadership the minute he walked into the door,” Collins said.

Collins also said having Robinson is like having a coach on the field since the senior played in 31 games since 2005.

“Lee’s play makes my job easier because they feed off him,” Collins said. “As long as he’s upbeat and has the right kind of attitude, they’re going to follow him.”