STARKVILLE, Miss. — Senior center Jakari Robinson walked on to a football field for the first time as a Bowling Green Falcon and took it all in.
“Words can’t describe it,” Robinson said after Bowling Green’s loss to Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon. “Just getting a chance to be back out there with my brothers was an amazing experience.”
In a week where the Falcons lost 45-14 without so many key personnel — coach Scot Loeffler, senior quarterback Matt McDonald, and senior tight end Christian Sims among them — the return of Robinson was a much-needed bright spot.
Robinson, who transferred to Bowling Green in the offseason after playing in seven games with Memphis in 2021, missed the first three games of the 2022 season while his eligibility waiver wound its way through the NCAA.
Before his stint with the Tigers, he played three years for Cincinnati, starting 24 games for the Bearcats from 2018-20 and helping anchor a unit that won the American Athletic Conference title in 2020.
Long before he achieved collegiate acclaim, however, Robinson was a high school star growing up in the Talladega, Ala., area — which made his Falcons debut, played a little less than 200 miles to the west of his hometown, even more special.
“Me being from Alabama — Mississippi State is one of the schools I always wanted to go to,” Robinson said. “Mississippi State, Auburn, Georgia, and just the SEC in general. But just being able to come back here with my brothers, and with my family here, too ... God is amazing.”
Loeffler has made Robinson’s situation a cause celebre throughout this season, urging the NCAA to rule him eligible in weekly and postgame news conferences. He pointed to Robinson’s strong academic record (All-AAC in 2019) and his family situation (Robinson is married with a young daughter).
Finally, Friday evening, Loeffler tweeted out the news.
“Jakari Robinson is eligible!!!!!,” he wrote. “A huge thank you to all involved. Jakari and his family are special people!”
Associate and acting head coach Steve Morrison echoed Loeffler’s excitement to have Robinson back in the fold.
“For Jakari and his future, I think that was the most important thing — the opportunity to play a game he loves,” Morrison said. “Selfishly, as a football team, you're excited to have him, because he's gonna help us win.”
Robinson thanked Bowling Green’s staff for their support throughout the process.
“I was a little embarrassed. I thought, ‘I’ve been here since January, and I’ve been working with y’all,’ but I haven’t been playing,” Robinson said. “I felt like everyone was in my corner, though. Everyone's been amazing. I couldn't ask for a better situation.”
The Falcons are sorely in need of Robinson’s services. The offensive line has been in flux for much of this season, with Robinson out and sophomore lineman Cade Zimmerly hurt against Eastern Kentucky.
Against the Bulldogs, however, Bowling Green’s offensive line showed signs of a brighter future. Junior quarterback Camden Orth, who started in place of McDonald, was sacked just twice.
If the unit takes a step forward against Akron next week, Robinson figures to be a crucial element.
“We’ve got a very talented, young group of guys. ... It's just being more clear and confident,” Robinson said. “I'm the center, so they listen to me anyway. If I just get up to the line fast and get down, then we’re all moving smooth.”
First Published September 24, 2022, 9:10 p.m.
