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University of Alabama senior right tackle Austin Shepherd just shakes his head when he thinks about what Cam Robinson has done on the left side this season.
Statistically, the true freshman has started 12 of 13 games and been credited with 32 knockdown blocks while giving up just three sacks in 729 snaps.
That’s despite usually facing the opposing team’s best pass rusher, and sustaining a nasty high ankle sprain against Tennessee that required surgery. Nevertheless, he was back starting Alabama’s next game at LSU two weeks later.
“I wasn’t near mature enough to do that,” said Shepherd, who redshirted his first season at the Capstone in 2010, and landed his starting job in 2013.
“When he first got here I was nervous. I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen — still a kid out of high school, missing home. I mean, he’s really grown into a good player. Fought through a lot with all of the injuries he’s had. I couldn’t be more proud of him. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here. The sky’s the limit for him.”
When Cyrus Kouandjio left a year early for the NFL, left tackle was a gaping hole on the Crimson Tide’s offensive line with no true heir apparent. Sure, the coaching staff had options, including Shepherd, right guard Leon Brown, left guard Arie Kouandjio and sixth-man Grant Hill, but with a new starting quarterback and offensive coordinator there was also the potential for disaster.
Enter Robinson, a prize recruit out of Louisiana, who, listed as 6 foot 6, 323 pounds, won the job in the spring as an early enrollee.
“Cam’s been a fantastic player,” said junior safety Landon Collins, “and showing the world he can block anybody.”
Take a look at some of the defensive linemen the Crimson Tide has faced: Preston Smith of Mississippi State, Dante Fowler of Florida, Trey Flowers of Arkansas, Myles Garrett of Texas A&M ….
Despite that Alabama has only given up 13 sacks this season, the fewest in the Southeastern Conference.
“He’s definitely a physical specimen,” sophomore defensive end Jonathan Allen said. “When you look at him, you wouldn’t think he was a freshman. He plays beyond his years. He has the confidence of a senior. He definitely has a lot of upside and a lot of potential. He’s been great for us this year.”
Some are tabbing Ohio State’s defensive line as the biggest challenge yet, especially since Robinson could be seeing a lot of unanimous All-American defensive end Joey Bosa during Thursday’s Sugar Bowl (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Buckeyes also boast Michael Bennett and Adolphus Washington in the interior.
But Wednesday night during his radio show Nick Saban hailed Robinson as already being one of Alabama’s best lineman, and probably the key to the unit’s success this season.
“We kind of gelled because we had to get Cam on board,” Shepherd said. “He wasn’t very sure of himself coming from high school to the SEC. We just had to talk with him every week and get him used to playing. I think it’s worked out well.”
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
