On Sunday morning, Syracuse added sophomore transfer Alton Robinson from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. The Converse, Texas, native signed with Texas A&M out of high school, but he was charged with felony robbery in February 2016 and, though the charges were downgraded to two misdemeanors, the Aggies released him in August that year.

He played the 2016 season with NEO. The charges were eventually fully dismissed on July 25, 2017.

This spring, Robinson reportedly signed a financial aid agreement with New Mexico State, choosing the Aggies over South Florida, Kentucky and Oklahoma State. Financial aid agreements are nonbinding, and he eventually simply decided he didn’t want to attend NMSU.

“Nothing happened (with New Mexico State),” Robinson told the San-Antonio Express-News in August. “After talking with people, I was sitting there and thinking, rather than going to New Mexico, I wanted to go somewhere else. I didn’t work so hard in junior college to go to a (lower-tier FBS school).”

On Aug. 3, Robinson told the Dallas Morning News that, after the charges were dropped, he was about to sign with Oklahoma State, but then was told that OSU couldn’t take him. The Cowboys reportedly cited Baylor’s sexual assault scandal and the Big 12’s reaction to it as reasons for not taking Robinson. “It’s unclear if the allegations against Robinson violated the Big 12’s serious misconduct policy,” the article said.

Still, on July 8, when it appeared that Robinson would attend New Mexico State, the school’s athletic director Mario Moccia released a similar statement to the one that SU director of athletics John Wildhack released Sunday.

“We did a deep dive on the situation just like every recruit who is involved in any off field incident,” Moccia said. “We investigated to the best of our ability to find the facts and speak with everyone who has been involved with him from his parents to his coaches.”

“We have conducted a thorough and comprehensive review of Alton’s background and have received nothing but positive feedback from all who know him, including educators, academic leaders and coaches,” Wildhack said. “Alton has shown deep regret and remorse for his actions and has grown as a result of the support he’s had from his family, friends and coaches. At SU, Alton will be held to the same high standards that we require from all of our student-athletes and he will be provided with the support and resources to help him excel and thrive inside and outside the classroom.”

The San-Antonio Express-News reported on the two investigations that put Robinson in football limbo:

“On Feb. 15, a female made a complaint to a BCSO investigator, according to BCSO spokesman James Keith. On Feb. 9, Robinson’s ex-girlfriend told deputies that she found Robinson hiding in some bushes by her driveway as she returned home around 11:15 p.m.

“Keith said she told investigators that Robinson approached her as she tried to go into her house. Robinson ripped her purse off of her shoulder and then took off, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Keith said in an e-mail Tuesday that Robinson dropped the purse as he ran from the scene but did take the victim’s cell phone.

“Robinson allegedly committed a similar robbery in May 2015, according to the Sheriff’s Office. In that instance, Robinson allegedly pulled his ex-girlfriend out of the vehicle and grabbed her purse, according to the arrest affidavit. Robinson’s ex-girlfriend told an investigator the tussle caused a burn on her shoulder and Robinson threw her into bushes after she chased after him into a field, according to the affidavit.”

Now, Robinson is at Syracuse. Last year, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive lineman had 31 solo tackles, 14 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Published on August 20, 2017 at 11:12 am

Contact Sam: sjfortie@syr.edu | @Sam4TR