Cincinnati Bengals draft Michigan punter, Westerville South graduate Brad Robbins
When you're drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, what more do you need to tweet than "WHO DEY!!!!"
That's what Michigan punter Brad Robbins, a Westerville South graduate, posted on his Twitter account after the Bengals selected him in the sixth round of the seven-round NFL draft on Saturday. He was the 217th overall pick.
“I was hoping to get drafted, but in my mind, I prepped like I wasn’t going to get drafted,” Robbins said. “If I did, great. If I didn’t, great. I went in neutral. It happened when it happened and I couldn’t be any happier about it. My mentality is, 'When can I get down there and when can I start to work?' I’m ready to gain trust and prove myself to the rest of the team.”
Robbins expects to report to rookie mini-camp in Cincinnati in early May.
WHO DEY!!!!
— Brad Robbins (@__BR91) April 29, 2023
Robbins received a call from Bengals coach Zac Taylor moments before the selection was announced. He watched the draft from his parents' home in Westerville.
“Coach Taylor called me and within 30 seconds after that, I popped up on that TV, (which) was pretty cool,” Robbins said. “I was pretty surprised just thinking about it. I’m definitely happy. A kid from Ohio going to Cincinnati, it’s all set in. It feels pretty good.”
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Robbins attended Worthington Christian for three years before transferring to South for his senior year of 2016-17. He was named first-team all-OCC-Buckeye Division and special mention all-district in his senior season.
He went on to punt at Michigan for six seasons and also served as a holder. He said he earned additional eligibility because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other circumstances.
Robbins finished last season with a 42.3-yard punting average and had no touchbacks.
"I'm so excited to see Brad continue to have success and chase his dream," former South coach Kyle Stout said. "I'm not surprised. Ever since high school he was very driven and methodical in all the extra work he put in to perfect his kicking. Congratulations to Brad and his family. I can't wait to tune in and see him on Sundays."
Robbins earned his undergraduate degree in psychology in 2020 and is pursuing a master’s in social work. He also plans to pursue a doctorate in sports performance psychology.
“I had a lot to prove,” he said. “As far as a school standpoint, I wanted to get as close as I could to getting a master’s degree as well.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bengals draft Michigan punter, Westerville native Brad Robbins
