Auburn dismisses RB Jovon Robinson
UPDATE (10 a.m. ET Thursday)
Robinson believes he was “stereotyped and disrespected.”
He made the comments in a message to Al.com following his Wednesday dismissal. Per the report, he believes his quick dismissal stems from the way Auburn’s coaching staff handled the discipline of wide receiver Duke Williams in 2015.
“Everything about (the) Auburn coaching staff is not what it seems,” Robinson wrote in a message to AL.com. “Just because I don’t walk around with (a) fake smile, they feel like they (can) say or try to force anything.
“I was stereotyped and disrespected. The football players are not happy with this.”
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Auburn’s starting running back to open the 2016 season won’t be Jovon Robinson.
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said Wednesday Robinson had been dismissed from the team. Robinson was considered the likely starter at tailback for the Tigers. Malzahn said Robinson “didn’t meet the expectations” of being a football player at Auburn.
“Anytime you have to dismiss a player it’s tough as a coach but this is a team and a year that there will be no distractions. I’ll always do what is best for the team and that’s what I did,” Malzahn said via AuburnSports.com.
Robinson, a senior in 2016, ran for 639 yards and three scores on 117 carries in 2015. He didn’t see much playing time to begin the season and had four carries over the first seven games. He became the Tigers’ primary rusher over the final six games of the season and ran for 159 yards against Texas A&M and 126 yards against Memphis in Auburn’s Birmingham Bowl win.
Robinson wasn’t projected as Auburn’s starter solely because of his late-season performance either. Peyton Barber declared for the NFL draft after the 2015 season and Roc Thomas transferred to Jacksonville State.
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Sophomore Kerryon Johnson is now the Tigers’ leading returning rusher. He had 52 carries for 208 yards and three touchdowns in 2015. Robinson’s departure may also mean playing time for one-time Baylor signee Kam Martin.
Martin signed with Auburn after he was released from his scholarship at Baylor following the Pepper Hamilton investigation.
For more Auburn news, visit AuburnSports.com.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
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