Manatee High’s Tyreek’e Robinson chose this Power 5 school to continue his football dream
The suitors were plenty for Manatee High School senior Tyreek’e Robinson.
Fourteen college football offers, according to 247 Sports, were issued for the defensive lineman. They included Texas, USC, Auburn, Miami and Deion Sanders’ Colorado.
But the final two schools jockeying for the 6-foot-1-inch, 318-pound star’s services were UCF and Louisville.
On Wednesday, Robinson revealed his next football destination when he signed a national letter of intent to play for UCF during a National Signing Day ceremony at Manatee High.
“The environment there, the coaches, they treat you like family,” Robinson said.
Robinson, who was a critical piece of a stout Manatee defense the last two seasons, said it was a visit he made to UCF’s campus in early January that sealed the deal.
“That day, I told them I’m ready to go,” he said.
Manatee star Tyreek’e Robinson signs to UCF
Robinson’s journey to college football came with a brief break in football. After playing a little as a youth, he didn’t play during his middle school days.
Then as a freshman, Robinson returned to the gridiron and began putting in the work that resulted in him being a coveted recruit for Power 5 programs throughout the country.
“They can expect a hard worker,” Robinson said. “Being as a freshman, you don’t play a lot. But I’m going to work hard even though, and then the next few years, you’re going to see my name in the stars, see my name in the lights.”
Robinson moved around on Manatee’s defensive line, but his main spot was the anchor in the middle clogging up runs and taking on double or triple teams.
While Robinson chose an in-state school, teammate Daron Jean, a cornerback, also chose a place not too far away. His decision, though, came after decommitting from Florida International University.
Jean flipped to USF to play for the Bulls in Tampa after DeMarcus Van Dyke left FIU to join USF’s staff.
“Coach (shows) a lot of love, a lot of respect and I appreciate that,” Jean said.
Here’s a look at who else signed, with non-football sport in parenthesis, on Wednesday from the county:
Manatee
Diego Garcia-Gill, Hillsborough Community College (baseball)
Truman Brugos, Maine (baseball)
Daniel Walker, New College (baseball)
Bonshavior Bean Jr., Shorter
Max Freeman, Ave Maria
Christian Johnson, Edward Waters
Damontez McDowell, Stetson
Elijah Perry, Warner
Tristan Titus, Warner
Logan Stephens, Montevallo (lacrosse)
Keegan Merrifield, Point University (lacrosse)
Palmetto
DeAndre Berry, Chadron State
Izaiah Jackson, Wayne State
Rok Lodge, Gannon
Jakobe Murrell, Gannon
Marcus Smith, North Carolina Central
Parrish Community
Lane Tomlinson, Ouachita
If we’ve missed anyone, please email Jason Dill at jdill@bradenton.com with their name, school and sport, and this list will get updated.
