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Washington Football DB Dylan Robinson Vital to Ryan Walters' Defense
- Story byHuskies Wire
- Washington Football DB Dylan Robinson Vital to Ryan Walters' Defense
Entering last season, former Washington Huskies cornerbacks Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock took up most of the spotlight when it came to secondary coach John Richardson's unit. Long, athletic corners who make it difficult for any receiver to create separation against.
However, with Davis missing six games due to injury in 2025, freshman Dylan Robinson stepped into the starting role and immediately established himself as a cornerstone piece for the future of the Huskies ' defense.
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Now, heading into his sophomore season after being limited throughout fall camp due to a minor injury, Robinson is poised for a breakout season in Ryan Walters' scheme. In his freshman campaign, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound playmaker notched 16 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup, along with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Since arriving on Montlake in the spring of 2025, the Bonita High School product has had no issues getting his body fit to play at a high level in the Big Ten.
"The kid is different," Richardson said. "You never have to worry about him losing weight; he will gain it no matter what, but he's just naturally built that way. I think he can maintain whatever weight he plays at, and he's an exceptional athlete, and he can handle it."
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The sophomore corner presents all the traits that coach Jedd Fisch and defensive coordinator Ryan Walters look for on the back end of their defense: big, tall athletes with the speed to make plays downfield in coverage, and who are unafraid to come down to the line of scrimmage and lay a hit.
Potentially the most memorable play of Robinson's young career came on a corner blitz, when he delivered a massive hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore for his lone sack of the season.
Despite being banged up throughout fall camp, the coaching staff has expressed zero concern about the health of the rising cornerback, which has given him an opportunity to hone his mental skills at the position.
"Being limited, it gave me an opportunity to really focus on the Xs and Os of football," Robinson said. "Diving into film more, understanding the playbook more, and how to play corner, I think that's something I was lacking last year, and so I really just focused on that, and I think it's going to really help me this year."
Despite the second-year player only starting six games in a Husky uniform, Robinson has more experience playing corner for the Huskies than the rest of the room combined. Expected to be in the rotation alongside Robinson are Virginia transfer Emmanuel Karnley and true freshman Jeron Jones, neither of whom has played a snap in purple and gold.
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Although he's still an underclassman, Robinson has already lined up against some of the best receivers in the Big Ten, including his first start that came against Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith. With crucial experience as a starter paired with a frame that is built to take on the best pass catchers in the conference, the sophomore's growth at the position is key to the success of Washington's defense.
"Now, it's actually trying to make more production on-ball. Last year, I think he only had one PBU, and that's not good enough," Richardson said.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Football DB Dylan Robinson Vital to Ryan Walters' Defense
