WVU Product Signs USFL Contract to Continue Professional Career

Former Mountaineer Kenny Robinson is getting another chance at professional football. Robinson has signed a contract to play in the USFL in 2024.

Robinson, 24, was with the Steelers throughout all of the 2023 offseason, but was released as part of the final cuts after training camp on Aug. 28.

Despite a solid showing during training camp and the preseason, Robinson did not make the Steelers regular season roster. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin praised Robinson throughout training camp, especially when he saw an increase in opportunities while starter Minkah Fitzpatrick was absent due to personal reasons.

Mike Tomlin Praises Kenny Robinson After Big Day at Steelers Training Camp

Robinson was asked how it feels to be called out in a positive way by Tomlin. ”It feels good to have praise from the head coach. Coach Tomlin has about known me my whole life. He’s watched me grow up and gave me an opportunity. I’m thankful for that,” he said.

Robinson, who is from Wilkinsburg in the Pittsburgh area, signed the Steelers to a reserve/future contract for the 2023 season back in January. Doing so allowed Robinson a chance to impress Tomlin and company at training camp.

A 6-foot-2, 200-pound safety, Robinson left West Virginia early after the 2019 season and played in the spring of 2020 with the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL.

After his XFL season, Robinson was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. Robinson did not mark the Panthers’ 53-man roster coming out of training camp, but hung around on the practice squad and ended up playing nine games in 2020 and 10 more in 2021.

Robinson had three separate stints on the Carolina practice squad this season, but was not called up to play in any games. In 19 total games, Robinson has 18 tackles. He played over 50% of Carolina’s special teams snaps in games he played.

Robinson played two seasons at West Virginia, and was a two-time All-Big 12 honoree. He started as a true freshman in 2017 and was the sixth-leading tackler on the Mountaineer with 46 stops. The also had three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

In 2018, he was a first-team all conference and was second in the league in interceptions with four. He was also second on the WVU team with 77 total tackles.

In a related story, Robinson details feeling the love of being back home in Pittsburgh with the Steelers.