FSU football: Janarius Robinson’s targeting ejection highlights his value

FSU football will play the first half of the Clemson game without junior defensive end Janarius Robinson. Fans being upset about it highlights his value.

Remember one of the biggest FSU football questions going into the season was what production would the Noles get from the defensive end position?

It’s not the Noles were not talented at the position as they had former blue chip players Joshua Kaindoh and Janarius Robinson in the fold.

However, neither player has lived up to their recruiting ranking through two years on campus whether it be due to injuries or just coming in extremely raw.

I thought both have been pleasant surprises in 2019. Unfortunately, Joshua Kaindoh was lost for the season with an injury in the Virginia game.

However, Janarius Robinson has turned in two of his best games in back-to-back performances against Louisville and NC State.

Unfortunately for Robinson he was ejected for targeting in the NC State game Saturday night, and will have to miss the first half of the upcoming Clemson game next week.

Of course FSU fans were feeling the refs were out to get FSU football because now the Noles will be without a defensive starter for the first half.

It was a terrible call for targeting no question because there’s nothing different Robinson could have done aside from not hit the QB as hard.

However, therein lies the value of just how well Janarius Robinson has been playing through five games. FSU fans are actually upset the team will be without him for the first half against Clemson.

Let’s say Robinson had to miss the first half of the Boise State game for whatever reason? I don’t think a big deal would have been made about it because he had not been productive the first two years right?

That hasn’t been the case in 2019. Robinson already has 17 tackles through five games and only had 27 tackles in 12 games last year. He already has 1.5 sacks and only had one the entire year in 2018.

Robinson has a forced fumble, fumble return and 3.5 tackles for loss thorough five games compared to just three all of last season.

It’s clear he has began to emerge as a player for the ‘Noles defense and the fans’ reaction to his ejection was clear validation.