UVA picks up DB Robinson from Cincinnati

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia has added its first transfer of the spring portal in Cincinnati defensive back Jordan Robinson, who announced he signed on Friday.

Meanwhile, UVA has also lost one player since the portal reopened this week in offensive tackle Blake Steen, who ironically has locked in a visit to Colorado a day after Colorado coach Deion Sanders publicly accused Virginia of tampering with one of his defensive backs (see related story on this site). Of the 17 Cavaliers who entered the portal last November-December, only seven have committed thus far.

Coach Tony Elliott said after last week’s spring game that he would be looking to add depth to Virginia’s secondary, and Robinson is the first.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound native of Columbia, S.C., posted 18 tackles for Cincinnati last season, including 2 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup. He played in 10 games for the Bearcats and made a season-high six tackles vs. TCU, while posting two tackles and forcing a fumble against Houston.

Robinson spent two seasons at Kentucky before transferring to Cincinnati. Overall, he played 15 games at Kentucky, had 13 tackles in 11 games in 2023, including three stops against Georgia. He also started against Tennessee. He redshirted in 2022 after appearing in four games.

Robinson started his collegiate career at HBCU, Division II Livingstone in 2021, where he started all 10 games and had 26 tackles, two interceptions and 6 PBU.