TEMPLE FOOTBALL coach Steve Addazio has a reputation as a recruiter. But one of the players he is expected to sign as part of this year's class, which will become official today, had to be among the easier sells he's ever closed.
Averee Robinson is a 6-1, 265-pound defensive lineman from Susquehanna Township High in Harrisburg and the defending PIAA Class AAA state heavyweight wrestling champion. He's also the brother of Adrian, who as an Owl senior just made all-MAC playing the same position.
"I mean, I've always loved Temple, always been a big fan, because of my brother and going to his games," Robinson acknowledged. "But there was some doubt. I didn't know if I should go there because I didn't want to get caught up in his shadow, with everyone expecting me to be him. But Temple just showed so much love. I felt they always had the best intentions for me. They looked at me as a player, but they talked about life outside of football. Compared to the other schools I dealt with, they impressed me the most.
"[Adrian] told me it was my decision. I can't lie. My family was a little bit of an influence. When I saw what he was doing, and the team, it made me want to go there even more."
The Owls went 9-4 in Addazio's debut after taking over for Al Golden (now at Miami), their third consecutive season with at least eight wins. The MAC East runners-up beat Wyoming by 22 points in the New Mexico Bowl, the program's first postseason victory since 1979.
This group of newcomers, which should number the NCAA maximum of 28, is considered perhaps the best in Temple history. It includes several late de-commitments, such as Nate Smith from Archbishop Wood (who was headed to West Virginia) and Johnstown's Alkwan Williams (original verbal to Pitt).
Robinson told Temple he was coming last summer. That didn't stop other schools from trying to get him to change his mind. But it wasn't happening.
"There's just something about the direction they're going in," said Robinson's father, Adrian Sr. "When [Adrian] went there, they'd only won one game the previous year [2006]. But I felt he was coming in at a good time. With recruiting, it's [about] a fit. Obviously, it turned out for the best.
"Once Averee gave them his word, we moved on. There has to be that trust. Matt Rhule [Temple's recruiting coordinator] made us feel comfortable throughout the whole process. They don't know how fortunate they are to have him, because it's almost like you're literally giving your kids away."
Robinson, who had 20 sacks, including six in one game, has played tackle, nose guard and end. Never hurts. But mostly, he just wants to play.
"I liked [Connecticut], and it seemed like they wanted me, but Temple wanted me more," he said." [UConn] just didn't seem as excited. Temple was always talking about next year, asking me if I was ready, getting me hyped. I know they're not where they want to be yet, or even where they need to be, but they're building the program up. It's rising. Why wouldn't I want to be part of something like that?
"[Other] schools would come in and ask me if I was totally set. As much as it's cool to be recruited by other schools, if you know you're set why lie to them and dillydally around? There was a thought of maybe going somewhere to wrestle, but at the end of the day no one really offered me. A lot of them don't get full scholarships. And the truth is, I probably enjoy football more."
And for the next 4 years he'll be getting his fill at 10th and Diamond, where he'll be out to establish his own identity.
"I mean, I get tired [of being compared to Adrian] a little bit, but I don't really mind it," Robinson said. "But sometimes it's a little like, 'You're Adrian's little brother,' from people who don't know me. Not that it's all bad. It keeps me on track, because I know I don't want to be the slack of the family."
Welcome aboard.
