FSU WR Robinson Lost NFL Money Returning to Seminoles

Talented receivers with a 6-foot-6 height advantage, and the ability to go up and win the contested catch battles are a rarity these days. Florida State receiver Duce Robinson was a 1,000-yard receiver last season and a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the top receiver in college football.

Robinson decided to come back for another season at Florida State (3-3). He was projected as a high draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with his height and sure hands as a possession receiver as strengths that stood out.

He had 18 contested catches last season, which was the most of any returning ACC receiver.

In terms of weaknesses, the one glaring concern of NFL scouts was Robinson’s lack of top end speed to create separation from defenders.

With that said, Robinson still would have heard his name called on Draft Day.

With hindsight being 20/20, he should have declared for the draft.

This past preseason, however, Robinson's name was attached to almost every award and accolade in existence, including All-ACC, Maxwell Award watch list, Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list, and 2nd Team Associate Press (AP) All-American.

However, this season has not started with a bang for Robinson, nor the Seminoles. Robinson has caught 17 passes for 294 yards and two scores. That is considerably less than what Robinson produced at this point last season: 25 catches for 443 yards and two touchdowns.

With that drop in production, Robinson has become somewhat of a non-factor in the offense this season.

Robinson left a sizable chunk of cash on the table by playing another year in Tallahassee.

He should be playing football on Sundays.

For whatever the reason, coach Mike Norvell has not schemed the proper plays or quarterback Ashton Daniels has not properly executed those plays to get Robinson more touches this season.

Norvell has recognized this anomaly and commented on it in his game week press conference on Monday.

“We need Duce Robinson to be a major impact for this team and I feel like he is and he will continue to be that for the rest of the season,” said Norvell. But, yeah, we do we want more production with opportunities.

“It’s being able to get him more opportunities as well as making sure that we're capitalizing on all things as it plays out throughout the course of the game. But, he's an incredible player “ Norvell said. “I think he's absolutely grown in all facets of being a receiver and I'm excited for what this back half of the season will be for him because he's definitely a guy that we count on in a very high capacity.”

Talk is cheap. Florida State has not executed on either side of the ball consistently this season, and these press conferences are sounding like broken records.

Florida State faces a monumental challenge this week as they travel to take on the Miami Hurricanes (5-0).

The Hurricanes, ranked No. 3 in the country, deploy the top-rated offense in college football. Miami has averaged 554 yards of total offense through six games this season.  

Actions speak louder than words at a press conference. Norvell must get Robinson, his best receiver, more involved in the offense against their arch-rival Miami.

The obvious mismatch he presents against smaller defenders is too hard to ignore, at least to the casual fan and the media.

Robinson has six games left in what will more than likely be his last season in Tallahassee. He has six games to increase his production to help turn the season around for his struggling team and his embattled coach.