There’s a gravity that surrounds Michael Robinson. It draws eyes, lures defenders and has onlookers anxiously awaiting his next move.
That’s usually a downfield heave that more often than not finds the hands of an Edgewood receiver. Or it’s a bolt to the outside to escape pressure and breeze past defenders unsuccessfully keeping pace.
It’s a daunting challenge to stop. Many failed.
“Those are the types of guys that keep you up at night,” one opposing coach said.
Robinson, The Aegis’ 2024 football Player of the Year, electrified Harford County this season with 1,084 passing yards, 954 rushing yards and 31 total touchdowns. The junior quarterback also returned punts for the Rams, who he led to a 9-2 record and a first-round Class 3A North Region playoff win.
Area coaches clamored about what it took to prepare for Robinson. Some told horror stories about much focus he demanded from opponents. Does he sense that attention?
“Yes,” he said. “But it’s just another game. I just try to focus on putting on a show.”
Robinson is a product of an athletic family. His father played football and lacrosse and his mother played soccer — he said that’s where his 4.4 second 40-yard dash speed comes from, along with running track in the springs.
While his quickness has always been a given, Robinson’s path to playing time wasn’t. He began high school at Loyola Blakefield and as a freshman started at quarterback for the Dons’ JV team. The next year, he was promoted to varsity but moved to wide receiver and hardly saw the field.
That pushed him to Edgewood. There, equipped with experience of fighting to the top of a depth chart and earning a role, he flourished as the Rams’ signal caller.
“I learned I have to want it more than everybody,” Robinson said.
Few teams slowed down the Robinson-led Edgewood offense. And when they stymied one of his dual threats — defending the pass or honing in on the run — he simply leaned into the other. If teams blitzed, he had no trouble finding an open receiver downfield. If he had time to be creative in the pocket, he easily found running lanes to pick up large chunks of yardage.
Robinson, who’s aiming to play wide receiver in college, said he didn’t feel like he had a control of the offense until late October when he was tasked with leading a second-half comeback against Havre de Grace. The Rams, trailing at the half, won 23-20 to move to 7-0 on the season. They ended up winning their first eight games by an average of more than 17 points. Six of the wins featured four or more touchdowns.
“I feel attention, but I’m used to it,” said Robinson, who’s aiming to play wide receiver in college. “In games, they’ll start off showing pass. Then they stack the box to make it harder on me. I just read the defensive line and see what’s there. I take a lot of pride in that. If I’m having a bad day in the passing game, I can just use my legs.”
Robinson still has his senior season ahead of him. And next year, his younger brother will be more of a factor in the Edgewood offense. Malachi Robinson, who played sparingly as a freshman but coaches and teammates say boasts limitless upside, was hampered this season with an injury.
“He was going to be the best receiver in the county,” older brother Michael said. “It’s gonna be a great connection.”
That’s a bold assertion that can only be backed up on the field next fall. It might be difficult to deliver an encore to this stellar junior season, but Robinson feels he still has abilities he hasn’t needed to display yet.
“I don’t think I ran full speed in any game,” he said. “Once I break the line of scrimmage, I’m already in front of people. So I don’t have to show my full speed.”
All-Aegis first team
Stephen Kelley, Harford Tech, junior, quarterback
Kelley threw for 1,921 yards and 24 touchdowns and added three scores on the ground for a Cobras offense that few slowed down this season.
Patrick Sullivan, Bel Air, senior, quarterback
Sullivan was the conductor of one of the area’ top offenses, posting 1,596 passing yards and 17 total touchdowns
Cameron Durbin, John Carroll, junior, running back
Durbin was one rushing yard shy of 1,000 this season and added 12 total touchdowns.
RJ Wilhelm, Patterson Mill, senior, running back
Wilhelm led a dominant Patterson Mill ground game with 1,585 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns.
Karon Evans, Harford Tech, senior, wide receive
Evans found the end zone in all 10 games he played this season on 17 yards per reception.
Julien Horton, Bel Air, senior, wide receiver
The North Carolina commit and the 2023 All-Aegis football Player of the Year missed a few games this season with injury, but was one of the area’s most dominant pass catchers when healthy.
Shamari Whitmore, Harford Tech, junior, wide receiver
Whitmore posted 863 total yards and 10 total touchdowns and was used in a variety of ways in the Cobras’ explosive offense.
Sanel Becirovic, Patterson Mill, senior, offensive lineman
Becirovic paved the way for two 1,000 yard rushers for the Huskies.
Terrence Powell, Edgewood, senior, offensive lineman
Powell helped his quarterback secure the area player of the year.
Owen Reilly, Bel Air, sophomore, offensive lineman
Reilly was the anchor for one of the area’s top offensive lines this season.
Xavier Stacker, Joppatowne, junior, offensive lineman
Stacker is now a two-time All-Aegis first team offensive lineman.
Nathan Whetzel, C. Milton Wright, senior, offensive lineman
Whetzel logged 18 pancake blocks while playing both ways for the Mustangs.
Alex Curry, C. Milton Wright, senior, defensive lineman
Curry, another C. Milton Wright two-way lineman, posted 61 tackles and 11 sacks.
Oliver Rueckert, Fallston, junior, defensive lineman
Rueckert was a force for the Cougars’ defensive front with 69 tackles and 9.5 sacks.
Cameron Stepp, C. Milton Wright, junior, defensive lineman
Stepp excelled at rushing the passer with 12 sacks and 17 hurries.
Brian Vickers, Harford Tech, senior, defensive lineman
Vickers posted 60 tackles and eight sacks this season.
Evan Alcide, Fallston, senior, linebacker
Alcide had a knack for finding the ball, logging 107 tackles, five sacks, four passes defensed and three fumble recoveries.
Ashton Brown, Joppatowne, senior, linebacker
Brown logged 85 tackles, four pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Evan Freeney, Bel Air, senior, linebacker
Freeney posted 100 tackles, 17 for a loss, along with four sacks.
Tayshawn Johnson, Perryville, senior, linebacker
Johnson anchored one of the area’s best defenses with 141 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
Terrez Boothe, Aberdeen, senior, defensive back
Boothe played both ways for Aberdeen, but made 56 tackles with three for loss on defense.
Jayden Byard, Perryville, junior, defensive back
Byard had more interceptions (six) than completions allowed (two) this season.
Lamar Watts, Bel Air, senior, defensive back
Watts was a disruptor for the Bobcats with 64 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions.
Quentin Williams, Edgewood, senior, defensive back
Williams turned defense into offense with eight interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Caleb Hamilton, Harford Tech, senior, kicker
Hamilton converted on 27 of his 29 extra point attempts and four of his six field goal tries, including a long of 51 yards.
All-Aegis second team
Mike Griffin Jr., Fallston, sophomore, quarterback
Julian Ringgold, Havre de Grace, junior, quarterback
Anthony Hall, Joppatowne, junior, running back
Dylan James, Bel Air, sophomore, running back
Jamaal Pearl, Harford Tech, senior, running back
Terrez Boothe, Aberdeen, senior, wide receiver
Coumel Edwards, Perryville, junior, wide receiver
Zach Loewe, Fallston, junior, wide receiver
Parker Miller, John Carroll, junior, offensive lineman
Cameron Stepp, C. Milton Wright, junior, offensive lineman
Matthew Valente, Bel Air, senior, offensive lineman
Xzavier Whittington, Aberdeen, sophomore, offensive lineman
Myles Britt, John Carroll, senior, defensive lineman
Jonathan Gettle, Bel Air, junior, defensive lineman
Nick Gomez-Acero, Patterson Mill, senior, defensive lineman
Travis Leek, Perryville, sophomore, defensive lineman
Bryson Worthy, Havre de Grace, sophomore, defensive lineman
Khalil Brice, Edgewood, junior, linebacker
Nathan Calamita, Bel Air, senior, linebacker
Donald Mullins, North Harford, senior, linebacker
Karon Evans, Harford Tech, senior, defensive back
Miles Miller, Havre de Grace, junior, defensive back
KJ Wood, Bel Air, senior, defensive back
Shamari Whitmore, Harford Tech, junior, defensive back
Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/TaylorJLyons.
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