The door swung open and Denard Robinson introduced himself, offered out his hand and sat down in a second-floor office inside Schem- bechler Hall. Robinson, 32, is dressed in all blue and working on a goatee, still rocking his vintage dreadlocks. Memorabilia spanning yearbooks to bobble- heads are scattered around the room, homages to Michigan football’s lore. Robinson, of course, is an integral part of the program’s rich history. Bridging Rich Rodriguez to Brady Hoke, Robin- son captivated the fanbase with his electric talent and ingrained the nickname “Shoelace” into the hearts of Wolverines across the globe. From 2010-2012, Robinson’s name was synon- ymous with Michigan football. His goal now, a decade later, is to pass that baton onto someone else. “I want to get some guys that come up here and be one of those players for us, one of the guys that’s a face for the University of Michigan,” Rob- inson told The Daily. “When they think about Michigan, you think about that person.” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh had been in conversations with Robinson for a while – the pair initially connected at the beginning of last season, but Robinson wanted to finish the year in his previous role with the Jacksonville Jaguars. They stayed in touch, and in February, Mich- igan afforded Robinson that opportunity, hiring him as its new assistant director of player person- nel. At last, he returned home. “I knew I always wanted to come back to Michigan and be a part of this program in some type of capacity,” Robinson said. “I was just excited to be a part of it.” Robinson’s work involves three primary con- centrations: watching film, scouring the transfer portal and hitting the recruiting trail. In each task, his goal is to find ways for Michigan to improve. “It’s been surreal,” Robinson said, grinning. Surreal for Robinson, sure, but also the high school players he recruits. Robinson estimates that 75% of high school players recognize him. “It’s kind of fun to see,” Robinson said, smil- ing again. “The younger guys coming up that watched football when they were younger, it’s cool to see that those guys still remember me.” One time, a player didn’t recognize Robinson for his on-field exploits. He did, though, realize that Robinson graces the cover of the video game NCAA 14. “Then he flipped out,” Robinson said, mimicking the player’s frenetic reaction. “(Being on the cover) is just a dream come true for me,” Robinson remembered telling the player. “I didn’t even dream that far about being on the front cover of the college game, but it happened to me. So we’ll make it real that you can do it, too.” It’s easy to see why Robinson can be an effec- tive recruiter. Beyond the pedigree – an all-time great player who holds the NCAA record for most rushing yards by a quarterback, among other accolades – Robinson is charismatic and genuine. The role suits him. For Robinson, it’s also invigorating. “It’s based on potential,” Robinson said, explaining the process. “You can see it. It’s either good or bad. Sometimes you miss on a guy, some- times you’re right on a guy. You’re trying to bat well. You want to be correct every time, but sometimes you’re gonna have failure. You just have to get back up and say, ‘Hey, I missed that one, onto the next.’ That’s how I look at it.” Robinson is well-versed in the lesson that things don’t always go your way. In college, Rob- inson was so popular that professors asked him to stop showing up to class because his mere presence created a distraction. But post-gradua- tion life humbled him. During his senior year, he suffered an ulnar nerve injury that ended his career as a quarter- back, forcing him to switch positions at the next level. Between injuries and inef- fectiveness, he never panned out as a hybrid running back/wide receiver type. Robinson’s fall from grace even prompted a Player’s Tribune story last year – penned by Robinson himself – titled, What Ever Happened to Denard Robin- son? This year, that question has an answer. Robinson is back at Michigan, and he has found his place. Robinson always knew that he wanted to stay involved in football once his playing days were behind him. Jacksonville University first hired him as an offensive analyst and assistant special teams coordinator in 2019. After their program disbanded, Robinson joined the Jaguars in 2020 as an offensive quality control coach. The fol- lowing year, he transitioned to the front office, assuming a role as a college scouting assistant, learning the ins-and-outs of player development. Throughout it all, though, Michigan never lin- gered far from his mind. If his bye week aligned, he returned to Ann Arbor for a football game. If not, he watched every game from his home, alongside his five-year- old son, Denard Xavier Rob- inson Jr., a budding superfan himself. JARED GREENSPAN Managing Sports Editor Back at home Back at home,, Denard Robinson eager to , Denard Robinson eager to help Michigan help Michigan's next generation s next generation The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com Thursday, November 17, 2022 — 5 READ MORE AT MICHIGAN DAIL Y.COM The Official Merchandise Retailer of Michigan Athletics The M Den The Victors Collection by The M Den Briarwood Mall Ann Arbor The M Den The Victors Collection by The M Den 55 Columbia Street Detroit The M Den on Campus 303 South State Street Ann Arbor The Victors Collection by The M Den 307 South State Street Ann Arbor The M Den on Main Street Ann Arbor The M Den 12 Oaks Mall Novi The M Den in and around the Stadium on game day The M Den in Crisler Center – 2 locations It’s about to go down! Show your support with the latest Michigan fan gear from The M Den. 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