Denard Robinson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Denard Robinson

Robinson with Michigan in 2012
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1990-09-22) September 22, 1990 (age 34) Deerfield Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	199 lb (90 kg)
Career information
High school:	Deerfield Beach
College:	Michigan (2009–2012)
NFL Draft:	2013 / Round: 5 / Pick: 135
Career history
As player:
Jacksonville Jaguars (2013–2016) Atlanta Legends (2019)
As coach:
Jacksonville University (2019) Offensive analyst Jacksonville Jaguars (2020) Offensive quality control coach
As executive:
Jacksonville Jaguars (2021) Scouting assistant Michigan (2022–2024) Assistant director of player personnel
Career highlights and awards
CFP National Champion (2023) First-team All-American (2010) Big Ten Most Valuable Player (2010) Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2010) First-team All-Big Ten (2010) Second-team All-Big Ten (2011) Gator Bowl MVP (2011)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 1,058 Rushing average: 4.0 Receptions: 47 Receiving yards: 310 Return yards: 155 Total touchdowns: 5
Player stats at PFR

Denard Xavier Robinson (born September 22, 1990) is a former American football player. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Before that, he was an amazing college football All-American quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines. The Jacksonville Jaguars picked him in the 2013 NFL draft.

In 2010, Denard made history as a sophomore. He set a record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He was the only player in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) history to both pass and rush for over 1,500 yards in one season. He also broke the Big Ten Conference record for total offense with 4,272 yards. This included 2,570 yards passing and 1,702 yards rushing. He even led the conference in rushing.

In his second start at quarterback, against Notre Dame, he set a Michigan record. He gained 502 yards of total offense in that single game. He won the 2010 Chicago Tribune Silver Football award. This award is for the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten Conference. He was also chosen as a first-team All-American. He became the only player in NCAA Division I FBS history to pass for 200 yards and rush for 200 yards in a regular season game twice.

As a junior in 2011, Robinson helped Michigan have a great season. They finished with 11 wins and 2 losses. They also won against Virginia Tech in the 2012 Sugar Bowl. He threw for a career-high 338 passing yards in a comeback win against Notre Dame. This was the first night game ever played at Michigan Stadium. By the end of 2011, Robinson had eight of the top 10 single-game total offense totals in Michigan history. His total offense in 2010 (4,272 yards) and 2011 (3,348 yards) are the top two single-season totals for Michigan. As a senior in 2012, he achieved his third game with both 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing.

When he was a freshman and sophomore, he also ran track. He was a sprinter for the Michigan men's track and field team. He could run the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds. In 2010, he had the fastest 60-meter dash time among Michigan's sprinters.

Early Life and Nickname

Denard Robinson was born in 1990. His parents are Thomas Robinson Sr. and Dorothea Robinson.

The "Shoelace" Nickname

Denard started playing pee-wee football when he was 10. He played with his shoes untied, which earned him the nickname "Shoelace."

He kept playing football without tying his shoelaces. Everyone knew him as "Shoelace." A reporter once visited his family and noticed this. The reporter said, "To everyone in Deerfield Beach – everyone but his mother, that is – there is no Denard, just Shoelace."

His coaches at the University of Michigan also accepted this. Michigan's quarterbacks coach, Rod Smith, was amazed. He learned Denard could run 100 meters in 10.4 seconds with untied shoes. Smith said, "Anybody that runs that fast I'm not going to tell him how to tie his shoes." Denard wears Adidas Reggie2 Superfly shoes. These shoes have Velcro straps to keep them on his feet.

High School Football Career

As a ninth grader, Denard tried out for the varsity football team. He wanted to play defensive back at Deerfield Beach High School in Deerfield Beach, Florida. His defensive coordinator was Manny Martin, a former Buffalo Bills player. Martin was also Denard's algebra teacher. Martin remembered Denard always saying, "'I can do it.'" Denard didn't make the varsity team that year. Instead, he played quarterback for the junior-varsity team.

Denard became the starting quarterback for the Deerfield Beach varsity team as a sophomore. He played that position for three years, from 2006 to 2008. Deerfield Beach head coach Art Taylor said, "As soon as he stepped on that field his sophomore year playing varsity, we knew we had something special."

In a 2007 state semifinal game, Denard led his team. They almost beat Miami Northwestern, the top-ranked high school team. Denard saw a Miami Northwestern player with his picture taped to his helmet. Denard laughed and told the player, "You think that scares us?" Deerfield was ahead 12–7. But Miami Northwestern scored a 99-yard touchdown with 18 seconds left. They won 14–12.

In October 2008, against St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Denard scored six touchdowns. He passed for 342 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for 54 yards and one touchdown. As a three-year starter, Denard gained almost 6,000 yards of total offense. This included 4,784 passing yards and 1,132 rushing yards.

Denard also competed in track for Deerfield Beach. In March 2009, he ran the 100 meters sprint in 10.44 seconds. He finished third in the 100-meter dash at the 2008 Florida 4A Track & Field State Championships. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.32 seconds. He was part of the 2008 Florida High School Athletic Association state champion 4 x 100 metres relay team.

College Recruitment

As a high school senior, ESPN ranked Denard as the seventh best general athlete in the country. Rivals.com ranked him 14th as a general athlete. Scout.com saw him as a cornerback and ranked him 16th nationally. Denard received scholarship offers from many top schools. These included Florida, Georgia, Kansas State, and Michigan.

Michigan first tried to recruit Denard as a defensive back, but he said no. Denard wanted to play quarterback in college. After seeing his passing skills, Michigan recruited him as a quarterback. On February 4, 2009, Denard announced he would attend Michigan.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
Denard Robinson QB	Deerfield Beach, Florida	Deerfield Beach (FL)	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.44	Feb 4, 2009
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 81
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 16 (CB); 14 (school)   Rivals: 188 (national), 14 (athletic), 35 (FL); 8 (school)  ESPN: 101 (national), 7 (athletic)
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:

College Football Career

2009 Season: Freshman Year

Denard started at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2009. During training camp, he competed for the starting quarterback spot. Fellow freshman Tate Forcier won the starting job. But Denard played a lot as a true freshman, appearing in all 12 games.

On September 5, 2009, in Michigan's first game, Denard scored a touchdown. It was on his very first college snap. He ran 43 yards for the score. The TV broadcast even showed his untied shoelaces!

Two weeks later, against Eastern Michigan, he ran for two more touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions in that game.

In a game against Iowa, Denard came in during the fourth quarter. He led a 59-yard scoring drive. He scored a 3-yard touchdown run. But then he threw an interception with 44 seconds left.

Denard led four scoring drives against Delaware State. He threw his first two college touchdown passes and scored a rushing touchdown. His only start of the season was as a running back against Wisconsin.

In 2009, Denard completed 14 of 31 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 351 yards and five touchdowns.

2010 Track Season

Denard also ran track for Michigan during his freshman year. In January 2010, he said he always wanted to run track and play football. He felt it helped him move faster on the football field. Michigan's track coach, Fred LaPlante, said Denard was one of the fastest high school 100-meter runners in 2009.

Denard won the 60-meter dash in his first college track meet. His time of 6.81 seconds was the best for Michigan that season. He finished fifth in the 60-meter dash at another event. He placed ninth at the Big Ten Indoor Championships.

His track coach once got scared during a practice race. Denard was "running so fast he was having trouble holding the turn." The coach worried about an injury to the football team's quarterback. He yelled, "Denard! Please, don't do that again! I'll be fired in 2 seconds!" The coach remembered Denard's big smile.

Personal Best Times

2010 Football Season: Breaking Records

2010 Michigan Offense vs. Connecticut

#16 Robinson takes the long snap for the 2010 Michigan Wolverines with #20 Michael Shaw, #22 Darryl Stonum, #9 Martavious Odoms, #52 Stephen Schilling, #50 David Molk as well as #79 Perry Dorrestein, #80 Martell Webb, and #72 Mark Huyge

2010 Michigan Wolverines football team offense including #16 Robinson, #20 Michael Shaw, #22 Darryl Stonum, #12 Roy Roundtree, #86 Kevin Koger, #52 Stephen Schilling, and #50 David Molk as well as #79 Perry Dorrestein, #65 Patrick Omameh, and #72 Mark Huyge

Pre-season Competition

In spring 2010, Denard impressed his coaches. People thought he would become the starting quarterback. The competition for the starting spot continued until September 2010. A newspaper, The Detroit News, wrote about Denard. It said he worked very hard and improved a lot. He was dedicated to getting better.

Even on the day of Michigan's first game, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on the mystery. Coach Rich Rodriguez kept his starting quarterback decision a secret.

Record-Breaking Game Against UConn

Denard did start Michigan's first game against Connecticut. In the first half, he rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown. He finished the game with 383 yards of total offense. This included 186 passing yards and 197 rushing yards. His rushing yards were the most ever by a Michigan quarterback. He also broke Michigan's single-game record for total offense. For this, he won several awards, including Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.

After this game, the New York Daily News wrote that Denard was a "cult hero." He had only started one game, but fans loved him.

502 Yards Against Notre Dame

In his second start, Denard led Michigan to a 28–24 win over Notre Dame. He gained 502 of Michigan's 532 total yards. This included 258 rushing yards and 244 passing yards. He broke his own Michigan record for total offense. This record stood until 2013.

In the first half, he had an 87-yard touchdown run. This was the longest run from scrimmage in Notre Dame Stadium's history at the time. It is still the longest run by a visiting player there. He also scored the winning touchdown with 27 seconds left. Denard broke the Big Ten Conference record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He became the ninth quarterback in NCAA history to rush and pass for over 200 yards in a single game.

After the game, Brandon Graham said Denard was even quicker than NFL star Michael Vick. Denard's performance got a lot of praise. The Wall Street Journal called him "the breakout star of the young 2010 season." Columnist Mitch Albom said Denard "redefined the term 'offensive weapon'."

Gregg Doyel from CBSSports.com even said Denard was the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy. For his amazing game, Denard won many awards again. He was the first player to win the Walter Camp honor two weeks in a row.

Denard had 455 rushing yards and 885 total yards in his first two games. He led Division I FBS in total offense. He had outgained 87 of the 120 FBS teams by himself.

494 Yards Against Indiana

Against Indiana, Denard gained 494 yards of total offense. This was the second-highest single-game total in Michigan history. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 217 yards. On Michigan's second play, Denard ran 72 yards for a touchdown. He later threw a 70-yard touchdown pass.

Denard hurt his knee in this game but returned. He led Michigan on a game-winning drive. He scored a 4-yard touchdown run with 17 seconds left. With this game, Denard became the first player in Division I FBS history to have two games with 200 rushing yards and 200 passing yards.

He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the third time. He also received the Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week award. After five games, Denard was the nation's leading rusher. He also ranked fourth in quarterback rating.

Mid-Season Losses

Denard was a top contender for the Heisman Trophy. But his chances dropped after three losses. Michigan lost to Michigan State, Iowa, and Penn State.

Against Michigan State, Denard threw three interceptions. He was limited to 86 rushing yards. Even so, Sports Illustrated picked him for its "September Heisman."

One week later, Michigan lost to Iowa. Denard had a shoulder injury and left the game. Michigan's record fell to 5–3 after losing to Penn State. But Denard played well against Penn State. He rushed for 191 yards and passed for 190 yards. His 191 rushing yards broke Antwaan Randle El's Big Ten record for rushing yards by a quarterback.

Big Game Against Illinois

In his ninth start, Denard passed for a career-high 302 yards against Illinois. He also ran for 62 yards. On the first play, he threw a 75-yard touchdown pass. He set a school record with 262 passing yards in the first half. Denard left the game in the third quarter due to dizziness. Michigan won the game 67–65. Denard and Tate Forcier combined to break Michigan's single-game passing record.

Losses to Wisconsin and Ohio State

Denard's Heisman Trophy hopes ended with losses to Wisconsin and Ohio State.

Against Wisconsin, Denard passed for 239 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns. He also became the first NCAA player with 1,500 rushing yards and 2,000 passing yards in the same season.

In the last regular season game, Michigan lost to Ohio State. Denard did not score any touchdowns. He rushed for 105 yards but only passed for 87 yards. He dislocated two fingers on his non-throwing hand. He was replaced by Tate Forcier.

2011 Gator Bowl

Michigan ended its 2010 season with a 52–14 loss to Mississippi State in the 2011 Gator Bowl. This was Michigan's worst bowl game defeat ever. Denard completed 27 of 41 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He added 59 rushing yards. His total offense broke Drew Brees' Big Ten single-season record.

2010 Season Statistics and Awards

Denard finished the 2010 season with 1,702 rushing yards. This was an FBS single-season record for a quarterback until 2012. He also passed for 2,570 yards. He had 4,272 yards of total offense. He became the first person in NCAA history to record 1,500 yards rushing and passing in the same season.

He received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the Big Ten Conference. He was also named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. Denard was selected as a first-team All-American. He finished sixth in the 2010 Heisman Trophy voting. He led the conference in both total offense and rushing yards per game.

2011 Football Season: New Coach, Same Star

Robinson at Michigan Stadium

After the 2011 Gator Bowl, head coach Rich Rodriguez was fired. Brady Hoke became the new coach. Many wondered if Denard would transfer because he played well in Rodriguez's offense. On January 17, 2011, Denard announced he would stay at Michigan. He said Michigan was his family and home. He couldn't leave his teammates.

Preseason Focus

Before the 2011 season, people wondered how Denard would adapt. The new offensive coordinator, Al Borges, was bringing in a different style of offense. Denard said running would still be an option. He added, "If nobody's open, the broken play is probably the hardest play to stop."

Regular Season

Robinson at a 2011 press conference.

In Michigan's first game of 2011, against Western Michigan, Denard completed 9 of 13 passes for 98 yards. He also had 46 rushing yards. The game ended early due to bad weather.

In the next game, against Notre Dame, Denard had an amazing game. He completed 11 of 24 passes for 338 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown. He threw the game-winning touchdown pass with two seconds left. This win moved Denard into third place in Big Ten history for rushing yards by a quarterback. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.

Against Eastern Michigan, Denard rushed for 198 yards. This gave him five of the top ten quarterback rushing games in conference history.

In the fourth game, against San Diego State, Denard scored three touchdowns in the first half. He rushed for 200 yards. This moved him into second place in Big Ten history for career rushing yards by a quarterback. He was again named Big Ten Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week.

On October 8, against Northwestern, Denard gained 454 yards of total offense. He had 337 passing yards and 117 rushing yards. He scored two rushing and two passing touchdowns.

On October 15, against Michigan State, Denard struggled. He threw for only 123 yards and had a costly interception. Michigan lost 28–14.

During Michigan's November 19 win over Nebraska, Denard had 180 passing yards and 83 rushing yards. He scored two rushing and two passing touchdowns. He earned Co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.

On November 26, in a win over Ohio State, Denard had a five-touchdown performance. He threw three passing touchdowns and ran for two. He became the fourth player in NCAA history to gain 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in a season twice. He rushed for 170 yards. He earned his fourth Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award for the season.

After the 2011 Big Ten Conference football season, he was named second-team All-Conference. He was voted team MVP for the second year in a row.

2012 Football Season: Captain and More Records

Robinson passing to converted quarterback Devin Gardner.

In August 2012, Denard was chosen as a "Player to Watch" in the Big Ten. He was also elected team captain.

After a tough loss to Alabama, Denard played great against Air Force. He gained 426 yards of total offense. This included 208 passing yards and 218 rushing yards. He scored two rushing and two passing touchdowns. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. He became the first NCAA athlete to both rush and pass for 200 yards in a game three times.

On September 15, 2012, against UMass, Denard had 397 yards of total offense in three quarters. He passed for 291 yards and three touchdowns. With this game, Denard passed Tom Brady on Michigan's all-time passing yardage list.

On September 22, Denard had a tough game against Notre Dame. He had five turnovers, including four interceptions. Michigan lost 13–6.

On October 7, Denard rushed for 235 yards and threw for 105 yards against Purdue. His 3,905 career rushing yards moved him past Antwaan Randle El. He became the Big Ten career leader in rushing yards by a quarterback. He also tied Mike Hart's Michigan record with his fifth 200-yard rushing game. This performance earned him his ninth Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award.

Denard got injured in Michigan's game with Nebraska. He returned for the last home game of 2012, a win over Iowa. In his final game at Michigan Stadium, he played tailback, quarterback, and wide receiver. He gained 122 yards, including 98 rushing yards. He did not throw the ball due to an elbow injury.

In his final regular season game, against Ohio State, Denard rushed for 122 yards. This included a 67-yard touchdown run. He was an honorable mention for the 2012 All-Big Ten team. Denard played his final Michigan game on January 1, 2013, in the Outback Bowl. In that game, he broke Pat White's FBS record for career rushing yards by a quarterback. He finished with 4,495 yards.

College Statistics

Michigan's All-Time Total Offense Leaders

Single Game Records

Denard Robinson holds seven of the top ten single-game total offense performances in Michigan history.

Single Season Records

Denard Robinson holds the single-season record for total yards with 4,272, set in 2010.

Big Ten Single-Game Quarterback Rushing Yards Leaders

College Honors and Awards

NCAA (all divisions)

• Only player with a 1500-yard passing/1500-yard rushing season
• Most rushing yards by a QB in a career

Division I FBS

• Division I FBS 200-yard passing/200-yard rushing regular season games (career and season)

Big Ten Conference

• Rushing yards by a QB (single-game, single-season and career)
• Total offense (single-season)
• Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week awards (career)

Michigan

• Total offense (career)
• Rushing yards on the road (single game)
• Passing yards (single half)
• 200-yard rushing games (career)
• Yards per carry (career, min 250 carries)

Other Honors

• Notre Dame Stadium longest run from scrimmage
• High school championship: FHSAA state champion 4 x 100 metres
• Chicago Tribune Silver Football (Big Ten MVP) (2010)
• Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2010)
• 2010 All-American (1st team – FWAA, 3rd team – AP, honorable mention – SI & CFN)
• First-team All-Big Ten (2010, media)
• Second-team All-Big Ten (2011, media)
• Led Big Ten in rushing (2010)
• Led Big Ten in total offense (2010)
• 2011 All-American (honorable mention – SI)
• 2012 All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention

NCAA Football 14 Cover Vote

After his successful college career, Denard was voted to be on the cover of NCAA Football 14. Over six million votes were cast in the contest. He was the first Michigan quarterback and third Wolverine overall to be on the cover. The voting took place on social media websites like Facebook and Twitter. Denard won against players like Ryan Swope and Eddie Lacy. Famous people like Olympian Michael Phelps and rap artist Snoop Dogg supported their favorite schools.

Professional Football Career

Pre-Draft Preparations

After his last season at Michigan, Denard said he was open to playing any position in the National Football League. Some experts thought he would have a better chance of being drafted if he switched positions. They suggested cornerback, receiver, running back, or kick returner because of his speed.

Denard participated in the 2013 Senior Bowl as a wide receiver. In the game, he caught two passes for 21 yards. His performance was not very impressive, and his draft stock fell.

Denard was the only Michigan player invited to the NFL combine. He was invited as a wide receiver, not a quarterback. He planned to throw and return kicks at his Pro Day. On Pro Day, he did not do quarterback drills. He returned punts, caught passes, and did running back drills. Scouts thought he should focus on being a running back first.

Denard's official 40-yard dash time was 4.43 seconds. This was the tenth fastest among quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. He caught every pass during the gauntlet drill, which was a good sign.

2014 NFL Season

On September 7, in Week 1, Denard recorded his first NFL reception. On September 28, he made his first NFL start against the San Diego Chargers. On October 19, he started at running back because Toby Gerhart was injured. He rushed for an NFL-career-high 127 yards on 22 carries against the Cleveland Browns. This helped the Jacksonville Jaguars end a nine-game losing streak. It was the Jaguars' first 100-yard rushing game of the season. He also scored his first NFL touchdown.

The next week, he rushed for 108 yards against Miami. He became the first Jaguar to have back-to-back 100-yard games since 2011. On December 7, Denard sprained his foot against the Houston Texans. He was placed on injured reserve, ending his season. He finished 2014 with 135 carries, 582 yards, and 4 touchdowns.

2015 NFL Season

On September 20, in Week 2 of the 2015 NFL season, Denard sprained his left knee. This happened while he was a backup to T. J. Yeldon. The injury caused him to miss the next three games. On December 13, Yeldon suffered the same injury. This allowed Denard to play more. He gained 75 yards on 14 carries and scored his only touchdown of the season.

2016–2017 Seasons

In July 2016, Denard was found passed out in a partially submerged vehicle. Police determined he was not impaired, and no charges were laid. In May 2017, he tried out with the Chicago Bears. In June 2017, he tried out at the New York Jets minicamp.

Atlanta Legends

In 2018, Denard signed with the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football. He joined as a backup running back for the 2019 season. He was placed on injured reserve on April 1, 2019. The league stopped operations later that month. Before his injury, Denard played in 7 games. He had 24 rushes for 66 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 7 passes for 37 yards.

NFL Career Statistics

Coaching Career

Jacksonville University

On July 29, 2019, the Jacksonville University Dolphins hired Denard. He became an offensive analyst and assistant to the special teams coordinator. Jacksonville University stopped its football program after the 2019 season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On June 12, 2020, the Jacksonville Jaguars hired Denard. He became an offensive quality control coach. When Urban Meyer became the new head coach, Denard moved to the front office. He worked as a college scouting assistant.

University of Michigan

On February 23, 2022, the University of Michigan hired Denard. He became the assistant director of player personnel for the Michigan Wolverines football team.

See also

In Spanish: Denard Robinson para niños

• Michigan Wolverines football statistical leaders