Written June 1, 2010 by by Dominic Porretta
Through eight games, former Otterbein defensive back Micheaux Robinson sat 22nd in the Arena Football League in total tackles with 44 to go along with three interceptions and six passes broken-up.
Robinson is currently playing with the Jacksonville Sharks after bouncing around indoor leagues. The Fostoria, Ohio native started his career with the Wyoming Cavalry of the American Indoor Football Association in 2005.
In 2007, he made his AFL debut with the Orlando Predators before moving on to play in arenafootball2 with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. In 2009, he was voted the af2 Aaron’s Defensive Player of the Year while leading the league in interceptions (14) and passes defended (49) and finishing second in total tackles (99.5).
Later that year he signed with the Sharks for the 2010 season.
“I’ve just really been trying to just give it my all every chance I get,” said Robinson, who is listed at 5’9’’ on the Sharks’ roster. “I know throughout my career, from high school until now, I’ve always been looked at as an undersized defensive back and I’ve always been getting criticized about my size. So, more or less, just trying to prove it to myself and carry on all the dreams I’ve had since I was a young kid to continue playing football past the collegiate level and just trying to represent my family and my hometown in the best way that I could, which is on the field.”
While at Otterbein from 2000-2004, he was a four-year letterman who recorded 13 career interceptions, which is a school record he shares with current Head Coach Joe Loth. He garnered MVP honors at the 2004 Aztec Bowl, a Division-III All-Star game, during USA’s 24-3 victory over Mexico.
After his time in Westerville, he attended a scouting combine at The Ohio State University in an attempt to fulfill his dream of playing in the National Football League.
“For whatever reason, they just didn’t see me fit to make it on their team. Regardless of the great numbers I put up at the combine, there were just other things that they disliked about me, which in turn, kind of held me back from getting an opportunity. So basically from there, I was just trying to stay on the field; I didn’t want to give up the dream. I just wanted to continue to play and arena football is where I landed.”
Robinson said having the opportunity to tour the United States has been one of the special experiences about playing arena football.
“Football has really given me a chance to experience all that the U.S. has to offer. I’ve been able to go to a lot of places that most people won’t get to see on a regular basis, so that’s pretty special to me. Just getting a chance to see the ocean and the mountains and all that stuff has been really cool for me.”
Football remains in his immediate future, Robinson said.
“I’m only 27. In football years, that’s not really old, but I’m kind of getting to that point where I’ve got to start thinking about future plans.”
He said one thing he is going to try to do is head back to Otterbein to finish up his degree so he has a fall-back plan once his career does come to a close.
“I’m going to continue to play ball as long as God is willing to give me that opportunity and my body is well. So hopefully, in five years, I’ll either be coming to the end of my career being successful, or I’ll be right on the brink of making it into the football field.”
