A Michigan Star Says His Game Has Matured

When Denard Robinson arrived at Michigan three years ago, he spoke so fast that his offensive linemen could not understand him. He also delivered every check-down pass like Justin Verlander. And Robinson’s feet gyrated so quickly during his cameos in the pocket that he looked more like a tap dancer than a quarterback.

Robinson’s fluorescent smile emerges when he recalls his freshman year, admitting that his beeline to stardom only came after he learned to slow down.

“I didn’t know I had that problem until I got here,” Robinson said. “Everyone was like, ‘Why you moving so fast? Why you throwing the ball so fast? Why are you talking so fast?’ ”

Just months after Rich Rodriguez was fired and Michigan returned to its roots by hiring a former assistant, Brady Hoke, the No. 12 Wolverines are 5-0 entering their game at Northwestern on Saturday night. Hoke’s presence has been felt most on the defensive side as Michigan has allowed 10.2 points per game, down from 35.2 last season.

Even though the Wolverines started 5-0 last season, there was a fragile feeling as Robinson left 10 of 12 games with various injuries. This season, Robinson says he feels “way better.” While Robinson is still fourth nationally in rushing yards, he is more aware of his value and ducks out of bounds more frequently to avoid unnecessary hits.

“He’s the type of person, he expects that every time he touches the ball that it should be a touchdown,” tight end Kevin Koger said. “He’s learned that it’s not a knock on your manhood to run out of bounds.”

Robinson acknowledges that moving fast was the only way he knew growing up in Deerfield Beach, Fla., a town north of Fort Lauderdale with a gritty reality that belies its resortlike name. Josh Philpart, Robinson’s cousin and his former high school teammate, called Deerfield Beach a two-exit town where there was one simple reality: “If you’re not playing football, you’re on the streets or not doing anything with your life.”

“It actually makes it easier now,” said Philpart, a star receiver at Jacksonville University. “Playing big games in college, there’s not as much pressure as it was back then.”

In order to avoid the so-called fast life, Robinson kept running. Deerfield Beach lore is filled with should-have-been, could-have-been athlete stories. Robinson credits his parents and older brothers for protecting him.

“There’s more guys selling crack than doing it,” Philpart said of star athletes lost to the streets. “They want to take the fast road to get money.”