Raleigh NC lineman overcomes late start, injury to earn two college football offers

The first hurdles Chase Robinson faced to play football were mysterious seizures suffered as a sixth- and seventh-grader. The doctors never did come up with a conclusive diagnosis before the condition cleared up.

Then, upon being medically cleared to play football as an eighth-grader for a local youth team, he suffered torn knee ligaments in his first game. His season was over before it really started.

Next, he missed his freshman year at Southeast Raleigh High in the fall of 2020 when the COVID pandemic shut down high school sports. When sports resumed, he also didn’t play the abbreviated football schedule representing the fall of 2020 that took place in the spring of 2021.

By the fall of 2021, Robinson’s sophomore year, he was finally on the field. But not until he overcame the final hurdle — perhaps the most challenging.

“I did not want him to play high school football,” said his mother, Miriam Robinson.

But Chase was prepared for the moment, having done his homework.

“He cut me off,” Miriam recalled. “He said, ‘Mom, you can’t tell me I can’t play. I looked it up. The seizures aren’t a reason I can’t play.’”

College offers

Fast forward to the fall of 2023 — Robinson’s senior year with the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder is a third-year starting varsity lineman with experience on both sides of the ball.

His meteoric rise resulted this summer in two scholarship offers — the first from Campbell while attending NC State’s camp and the second from NC Central at the Eagles’ camp.

“I was excited to get the offers,” Robinson said. “Coach Adams (Campbell defensive line coach Damien Adams) and coach Coard (NC Central defensive coordinator Courtney Coard) encouraged me. I feel the hard work paid off.”

Robinson’s play on both sides of the ball helped Southeast Raleigh get off to a 2-0 start this season with wins over Enloe, 27-0, and Wakefield, 21-14.

But a 31-6 loss last week at traditional Triangle power Wake Forest brought the Bulldogs back to Earth. Southeast Raleigh tries to regroup against Willow Spring (1-2) in a 7 p.m. Friday game at the second-year school in Fuquay-Varina.

Robinson’s high ceiling

Bulldogs coach Edwin Campbell says Robinson’s high ceiling includes his age. He didn’t turn 17 until August 28. With Robinson’s athleticism and weight gain between last fall and this one, the Bulldogs shifted the two-year starter at left offensive tackle to starting as a defensive lineman with spot duty on offense.

“He’s got long arms, big hands, a big frame, and he’s athletic,” Campbell said. “With his frame, he can put on another 25, 30 pounds. State’s coaches noticed him at their camp, and they’re showing strong interest. They were at our game on Friday. They like his versatility as a defensive lineman.”

When Robinson’s mother was reluctant to let him play football, she was far from alone. In recent years, growing public awareness of catastrophic injuries in the NFL and college have led many parents to steer their sons to different sports. Chase’s father, Billy, is an avid football fan who played in high school at St. Pauls, N.C., but moms tend to have the last word.

Now, though, Miriam Robinson says she’s glad she gave in to her son’s passion for more reasons than a college scholarship.

“Football has helped him grow,” Miriam said. “When he got to Southeast Raleigh, he didn’t talk much. The teachers said he was observant, and they loved having him I class. But all he did was nod. The football coaches said the same things about him. I’m glad he cut me off and didn’t listen to me.”

Robinson is still soft-spoken, but the camaraderie of teammates continues to bring out his personality.

“Football helped my confidence,” Chase said. “I’ve made some good connections with my teammates and teachers. When I was made the starting left tackle, I wanted to learn as much as I can about how to play football. I study the playbook. That’s a key.”

Maybe his mysterious story is as simple as football gods were watching over him. Maybe the unexplained seizures were nothing more than his talent and passion trying to escape.

The doctors, after all, never came up with a more definitive explanation.