What Works in the Hogs’ Favor with Arkansas’ Highest Rated Defensive Back in 16 Years

Omarion Robinson, Arkansas football, Arkansas recruiting
photo credit: Nick Wenger

The state of Arkansas has a potential star within its border and his name got on the radar early. If he can be convinced to stay home, Omarion Robinson could fill a big hole for the Razorbacks.

The rising junior was named to the MaxPreps Freshman All-American second team in 2021 and has continued to impress scouts. Ranked as the top player in the state, Robinson checks in at No. 148 overall in the Class of 2025, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Playing for Little Rock Parkview, he is primarily a safety – a position at which he’s ranked 10th nationally – but is also used as an offensive playmaker and return man on special teams.

The Recruitment of Omarion Robinson

So far, Omarion Robinson has already collected 20 scholarship offers. They include six current or soon-to-be SEC schools – Arkansas, Auburn, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas – as well as some other big programs, like Baylor, Florida State, Michigan State, Oregon, TCU, Texas, USC and Utah.

The Razorbacks were his third offer, extending one on Jan. 7, 2022, when he was still just a freshman. They reaffirmed that offer a couple months later after changing defensive backs coaches and are still actively recruiting him with a new defensive staff, hosting him for an unofficial visit back in March.

As the days go by, Arkansas’ competition for the in-state standout increases. Robinson has picked up 12 of his 20 offers since the start of 2023, with four coming this month.

Because he is still so young, Robinson doesn’t have any Crystal Ball predictions on 247Sports or indicators toward a decision yet, but the flagship program in his home state may have the early advantage.

The Arkansas football offer meant “a lot,” Robinson told Otis Kirk of Pig Trail Nation. “Especially an offer from your home town – it means a lot.”

He may also have a nearby hand pushing him to Fayetteville. Robinson told Richard Davenport of Whole Hog Sports in May that his mother loves it in Fayetteville and is trying to talk him into playing with Arkansas. 

“She wants me to go to Arkansas, so of course she’s going to like it up there,” Robinson said. “She loves it every time.” 

It may take that inside job to get Robinson into the cardinal and white because he is a high-caliber player who has many options in front of him, but it sounds like his mom isn’t the only one who’s created a bond with the Arkansas coaches.

During his most recent trip to Fayetteville, Robinson had an opportunity to “chop it up” with new defensive assistants Travis Williams (defensive coordinator), Marcus Woodson (co-defensive coordinator/secondary) and Deron Wilson (secondary).

Scouting Report on Omarion Robinson

Standing at 6-foot-0 and 171 pounds, Omarion Robinson has plenty of room to grow and fill out his frame before college. He already has an athletic build, but adding some muscle would make Robinson a real beast.

The best word to describe him is “explosive.” His returns are game-changing and his tackles are impactful. Robinson makes returning punts and kickoffs for touchdowns look easy and routine. He has very good field vision, always seeming to find the seam, plus has the speed to reach pay dirt before anyone else.

His close out speed also helps him to break up passes and he has shown quick reflexes to break on the ball even before the receivers. What helps make him so dominant is his ability to read the quarterback and position himself perfectly during the play.

As a sophomore, he had 63 tackles, 22 pass breakups and four interceptions, with one going back to the house. He also played wide receiver last year and used his speed to get behind the defense for a number of long receptions. Robinson proved he can also take over the game in offense too, even collecting a few touchdown passes.

He finished the 2022 season with seven receptions for 233 yards and four touchdowns and 139 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Robinson even completed 10 of 11 passes for 136 yards and five touchdowns.

When Robinson touches the ball, it’s most likely gaining a large chunk of yards – if not going all the way. He gained only 508 yards of offense, but racked up 10 touchdowns to go with four return touchdowns and a pick-six.

His speed can disrupt the game in so many aspects; returning punts for touchdowns, closing out on passes at safety, delivering bone crushing hits, or burning the opposing safeties while he gets a turn to catch passes from his own quarterback.

His two-way capabilities are reminiscent of Arkansas defensive back Quincey McAdoo, who came to Fayetteville as a receiver but transitioned to defense out of necessity. Roaming the defense, he became a big playmaker on that side of the ball, even earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team.

As primarily a defensive player, Omarion Robinson couldn’t pull a McAdoo, but could possibly do the reverse if need be and transition to receiver. It’s very hard to tell what the Arkansas football roster would look like in 2025 and if Robinson will even choose the Razorbacks, but the point is he has the type of talent to do what McAdoo accomplished this past year.

Both Robinson and McAdoo have game-changing speed and the ability to read the offense and make big plays. Both are just flat-out athletes.

What it Would Mean for Arkansas Football

The secondary was pretty thin for Arkansas in 2022. The lack of depth was exposed in part due to the season-ending injury to star safety Jalen Catalon in the first game of the year.

There was a gaping hole created by his injury and could leave a lasting mark on the position group. When Omarion Robinson gets an opportunity, he could be the caliber of player to fill that gap. However, it is hard to know exactly what things will look like when there are still two full seasons to be played before Robinson ever sets foot on a college campus.

Still, landing Robinson would be huge for the defense and for Pittman. It is important to keep the in-state talent at home, especially when the recruit is nationally ranked in the top 150 players of that class.

Landing defensive backs who are ranked in the top 150 has been tough for Arkansas football overall, but in Robinson’s case it would mean something extra. He’s rated as the best in-state defensive back the Natural State has produced since 2009.

That year, the Razorbacks reeled in five-star prospect and No. 24 overall recruit Darius Winston out of West Helena to play cornerback.

Since then, the only 247Sports Composite top-150 defensive backs Arkansas has landed were Chevin Calloway in 2017 (No. 149) and Jaylon Braxton in 2023 (No. 140) – both of whom are from Texas.

There is still a lot of time before Robinson plays college ball, but he is a name to remember. As the state’s top-ranked player in the 2025 class, Omarion Robinson is going to be a problem wherever he goes.

Check out the sophomore year highlights of Arkansas recruiting target Omarion Robinson:

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