When Navy holds its Pro Day this spring, the atmosphere in Annapolis will look very different from the typical mid-major workout.
For the first time in program history, representatives from 22 NFL teams are expected to attend a Navy football Pro Day, largely because of one player. Defensive tackle Landon Robinson, the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a First-Team AP All-American, has become one of the most intriguing defensive line prospects in the country.
Robinson anchored Navy’s defense while compiling 14.5 career sacks, an impressive total for an interior lineman. His blend of strength, speed, and relentless effort has turned him into a disruptive force in the trenches and a player that NFL scouts want to see up close.
For Robinson and Navy, the moment represents something larger than just a workout. It is the culmination of an unlikely journey that started with a single scholarship offer and evolved into one of the most decorated defensive careers in program history.
Built Through Work
Robinson’s reputation inside Navy’s football program began in the weight room.
During one spring workout session, Robinson prepared to squat 650 pounds, a number that required a specially ordered bar because the standard equipment could not hold the plates needed for the lift. Strength numbers like that have become part of the legend surrounding the Midshipmen defensive lineman.
His documented max lifts include a 665 pound squat and a 465 pound bench press, numbers that place him among the strongest athletes in college football.
But raw strength alone does not explain why NFL teams are making the trip to Annapolis.
Robinson combines that power with rare movement skills for a 285 pound defensive lineman. Navy’s staff has clocked him running more than 20 miles per hour while wearing pads, a speed that led the coaching staff to occasionally use him on kickoff coverage, something rarely seen for interior defensive linemen.
That unusual blend of strength and speed has made Robinson one of the most disruptive defenders in the American Athletic Conference over the past few seasons.
The Backyard Beginnings
Long before Robinson became the centerpiece of Navy’s defense, his athletic development started in a much different environment.
His father Lance ran a gymnastics gym and had competed as a gymnast at Kent State. That meant Landon spent much of his childhood on tumbling mats, learning body control, balance, and flexibility before he ever focused on football.
At home, Robinson turned the backyard into a personal training lab.
He remembers watching The Karate Kid and then heading outside to practice stretches, kicks, and flips. Eventually those sessions evolved into structured drills using ladders, cones, and weighted exercises designed to improve footwork and speed.
Robinson trained constantly.
“I would just go out in the backyard and work on footwork drills,” he said. “I would put weights on my legs and try to slow myself down so I could build speed.”
His athletic interests were wide ranging. Robinson competed in wrestling, track, baseball, and football during his time at Copley High School in Ohio. Wrestling, even though he only competed for one season, may have had the biggest impact on his development.
The sport taught him leverage and body positioning. Those lessons became valuable tools once he began battling offensive linemen every Saturday.
The Recruit Navy Believed In
Despite his athletic ability, Robinson did not arrive in Annapolis as a highly sought after recruit.
In fact, Navy was the only FBS program to offer him a scholarship.
Defensive coordinator PJ Volker served as Robinson’s area recruiter and initially envisioned him as a versatile defensive front player who could grow into a defensive end. Robinson arrived at the Naval Academy weighing about 240 pounds and playing outside linebacker.
That plan changed quickly.
Robinson committed himself to building his body and dramatically increased his calorie intake. Stories from inside the program include setting alarms during the night to drink protein shakes and adding full pizzas after dinner to help accelerate the weight gain process.
The strategy worked.
Within months Robinson had climbed toward 280 pounds, eventually reaching 300 before settling around 285. The added strength allowed Navy’s coaches to experiment with his position along the defensive line.
The pivotal moment came during spring practice of his sophomore year when an injury forced the coaching staff to move Robinson to the interior defensive line.
What started as a temporary adjustment soon became permanent.
Becoming the Anchor
Once Robinson moved inside, Navy realized it had discovered something special.
Instead of struggling with the added weight and responsibility, Robinson thrived at nose tackle. He chased plays across the field, penetrated the backfield regularly, and used his leverage to disrupt blocking schemes.
Offensive lineman Hoke Smith, who practiced against Robinson throughout his career, said he had never faced a defender who consistently played with lower pad level.
That leverage, combined with Robinson’s strength and burst off the line, made him extremely difficult to block.
His impact even changed the way Navy conducted practices. When Robinson broke through the line during pass rushing drills, coaches often allowed the play to continue rather than stopping it, simply asking Robinson to peel off so the quarterback could complete the rep.
Otherwise the offense would rarely have time to throw the ball.
The results showed up on Saturdays.
Robinson developed into one of the most productive defensive linemen in the conference while earning two all conference selections, culminating with his AAC Defensive Player of the Year award and First Team AP All American recognition.
A Memorable Army-Navy Moment
Even though Robinson built his reputation on defense, one of his most memorable moments came with the ball in his hands.
During the 2024 Army-Navy Game, the Midshipmen executed a fake punt that ended with Robinson rumbling downfield for a massive gain that helped swing momentum in Navy’s favor.
It was the kind of unexpected play that perfectly captured Robinson’s versatility.
For his career he finished with three rushing attempts for 87 yards, an unusual stat line for a defensive tackle but a fitting one for a player who has never fit into typical positional expectations.
The Next Step
Now Robinson stands on the edge of the next phase of his career.
Navy’s Pro Day will give NFL scouts the opportunity to evaluate him in person, and the expected presence of all 32 teams reflects how much interest he has generated across the league.
Interior defensive linemen who can collapse the pocket, hold their ground against double teams, and still move with athleticism are highly valued in today’s NFL. Robinson’s combination of strength, speed, and technique makes him a compelling prospect.
For Navy, the moment also highlights the program’s ability to identify and develop players who may not arrive with national recruiting attention but grow into elite college performers.
What It Means
Robinson’s journey from lightly recruited high school player to All-American defensive tackle is a testament to development, discipline, and relentless work.
Now the entire NFL is coming to Annapolis to see what Navy has built.
If Robinson performs the way his college career suggests he will, the Midshipmen defensive leader may soon add another milestone to his resume.
This time on Sundays.
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