Wan'Dale Robinson Quotes - March 9, 2020

Wan'Dale Robinson
SOPHOMORE | WIDE RECEIVER

On what would define the personality of the team
"Tough. I can tell you we're going to be a really tough team. They put us through a pretty hard practice for the first one. Just being tough and getting through everything and every game, taking that mentality in spring practice will hopefully carry over to games."
 
On the differences he's seen since he arrived on campus last year
"I would definitely say the attitude of our team. Everyone knows what it takes to win. Everybody knows what it's going to take to do the things that we want to accomplish. Everybody bought in especially in the lifting and strength and conditioning. That's just what we're going to have to do."
 
On currently being the most experienced wide receiver
"I had that in high school. After my freshman year, I kind of knew that I was going to be the guy. From this point on, I'm just going to try to help the young guys who haven't played and the redshirt guys and even the walk-on guys. Just to help them get through the spring and help them through everything, so that they can go out there and compete."
 
On what Offensive Coordinator Matt Lubick brings to coaching wide receivers and the offense overall
"He's been in the offense before. He knows exactly what the offense wants. Him and Coach Frost probably get along better than most people he's ever worked with. Just being able to put in the game plan and know exactly what is coming in. He's brought in a lot of good stuff in our room. He's added some good stuff and taken out some stuff, too. Everything has been good from what he's brought."
 
On JD Spielman's absence from the team
"Obviously, I was upset, but that is my brother. We're basically like brothers. If he felt like he needed to leave, I support him. We don't talk football at this point now. It's all 'How are you doing?' and "Are you doing all right?' Him being there as a person rather than just a football player is the thing I'm worried about the most."
 
On how he can tell that Coach Frost gets along with Matt Lubick
"If you just see them, and I'm sure when they put a game plan together, they probably work really well together. Just knowing what kind of plays they called before and having similar weapons...just being able to put together a game plan."
 
On if the wide receivers who redshirted are excited to be out on the field
"Yeah, they redshirted last year and weren't able to play any ball. They're exciting to get going, and they know they can be big contributors to our team this year and help us win a lot of football games this year."
 
On his impressions of wide receiver Alante Brown
"He's really good. I think he will definitely help us this fall. He's had to learn a little bit of everything like I did, so I'm just trying to help him with that and learning the running back stuff and the receiving stuff. It's all going to come really fast, but I think he will definitely be able to get through it."
 
On if he expects to move back and forth from wide receiver and running back
"As of today, I was solely a receiver. Whatever they need me to do. I'll go back to running back for a few plays if I need to do that. If they need me to stay at receiver, I'll do that as well. It's all up to them."
 
On the quarterback situation
"They're all capable of playing. They've all helped us in a game last year. Whatever they feel like they need to do at the quarterback position, that's what they'll do. Right now, we are just trying to get better."
 
On if there is someone that he's seen really make strides since last year
"Jamie Nance has come a long way. Demariyon Houston has come a long way and basically all the walk-ons. Christian Banker is a really good football player. Wyatt [Liewer], Bennett [Folkers] all those guys can bring something we need, especially in our receiving room. Everybody is going to have to contribute."
 
On what he hopes to improve on from last season
"I definitely knew I could play a lot better. A lot of that came with being injured. Knowing that I can do better especially in some areas and being able to play a lot more receiver after not being injured and not having so many leg problems will probably be the best thing."
 
On the moment against Purdue last season where he wanted to go in on the final series but was held out
"My hamstring popped. I went over and told them and told them I could finish the game. Obviously, my best interest was to not finish the game. Obviously, I was a little upset that I couldn't be out there, but it was obviously the right choice."
 
On how many games he was 100% last season
"Not many."
 
On if there is a technique where he can avoid bigger hits
"I really didn't get the concept of getting what you can get then getting down or get out of bounds. I thought it was a little like high school where I could break a lot of tackles, but the Big Ten is a different ballgame. Just being smarter when I get into crowds and knowing that there isn't much you can get and you'll have to save yourself for the next play."
 
On how big having a lot of experience returning is for an offense
"I think it's big especially for a lot of us who've come back. The younger guys will be able to see what it's supposed to look like, so that everyone is on the same page of how the offense should look."

NU Athletic Communications