Jakob Robinson

Early life

Robinson is of African American and Vietnamese heritage and was adopted at birth by a Mormon family from Utah. His Vietnamese birth mother, who now lives in Miami, was also an adoptee. Robinson attended Orem High School in Orem, Utah. He participated in the basketball and track and field teams. In football, he was a part of a team that won three consecutive state championships. He was rated as a three-star recruit, the 20th in the state, and committed to play college football for the Utah State Aggies.

Utah State

As a freshman in 2020, Robinson notched eight tackles and a sack. After the season, he entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.

BYU

Robinson transferred to play for the BYU Cougars. In week 13 of the 2021 season, he tallied two interceptions in a win over Georgia Southern. Robinson finished the season with 29 tackles, four pass deflections, and three interceptions. In the 2022 New Mexico Bowl, he made the game-winning tackle on a two-point conversion attempt by quarterback Tanner Mordecai, helping BYU to a 24–23 win over SMU. During the 2022 season, Robinson recorded 51 tackles with one and a half being for a loss, five pass deflections, and an interception. In week 2 of the 2023 season, he was a captain, and notched two interceptions in a win over Sam Houston State. Robinson finished the 2023 season with 59 tackles, seven pass deflections, four interceptions, and a touchdown, finishing as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.