Havelock's Robinson commits to South Carolina

First impressions can be deceiving.

Corey Robinson may seem like a gentle giant. But on the football field, the 6-foot-7, 290-pound offensive lineman is a fierce competitor.

In front of his mother, teammates and coaches on Tuesday, Robinson verbally committed to play for the University of South Carolina in 2010.

Although he can't officially sign until February, Robinson announced his plans via a phone call to South Carolina assistant coach Brad Lawing.

"Coach Lawing told me Corey is one of the nicest young men you'll ever talk to," Havelock coach Jim Bob Bryant said. "But when he gets on the field and straps on his helmet, he said he is one of the nastiest players he's seen."

North Carolina, North Carolina State, East Carolina and Duke had all expressed interest in Robinson. But Robinson said the intrigue of playing in the Southeastern Conference for Hall of Fame coach Steve Spurrier made his decision an easy one.

"We are talking about history," Robinson said during a press conference at Havelock High School. "It's one of the best conferences in football, and it's a chance to play for someone that is in history."

Robinson said he wanted to make the decision now to clear his mind and prepare for the upcoming high school football season. Havelock finished 8-4 last year after losing to Washington in the first round of the 3A playoffs. The expectations are greater this season.

"It's time to get serious about the season coming up," Robinson said. "The team, we expect to be the best. We expect to go undefeated. We expect to go to the state championship and win it."

Lawing, was an assistant football coach and head baseball coach from 1980 to 1983 at Havelock High, initially recruited Robinson. Lawing is the defensive line coach at South Carolina and its recruiting coordinator for the eastern North Carolina area.

Lawing was an assistant at the University of North Carolina and helped recruit another Havelock High player, Bruce Carter, to that school in 2005.

Robinson met with Lawing and South Carolina offensive line coach Eric Wolford about a month and a half ago. Two weeks later, he was offered a scholarship from Spurrier.

"Coach Spurrier asked me ‘Can Corey Robinson play in the SEC?' I said, ‘Yes sir,'" Bryant said. "He then said ‘Tell him he's got his first offer.'"

Robinson impressed the Gamecock coaches at the lineman prospect camp earlier in the offseason. More than 375 offensive and defensive linemen worked out in the camp, and Lawing told Bryant that Robinson was the best offensive lineman.

Robinson was the fifth offensive lineman and second offensive tackle to commit to South Carolina's 2010 recruiting class. He runs the 40-yard dash in 5.2 seconds.

"They think this could be a great offensive line with everybody that's coming in," Robinson said.

Last season for Havelock, Robinson played all five positions on the offensive line. He led the Rams in pancake blocks and paved the way for a running game that averaged 200 yards per game and scored 28 touchdowns.

"Corey's knowledge enables him to have the leadership he needs," said Havelock offensive line coach Caleb King, who has coached Robinson for two seasons. "When Corey says something, it is unquestioned by everybody on the line. He does a great job in film studies and he takes a lot of pride on what he does on the field."