Alexander Robinson is one of those elite athletes coming from the football factory that is Vancouver College. He possesses the athletic ability, size, range and quickness few could match at the CIS level. His All-Canadian season combined with an excellent CFL Evaluation Camp propelled him into Toronto Argonauts draft pick. His hard work and talent have catapulted him into the lineup of one of the oldest franchises in professional football.
Zanders, as his teammates back at Western call him, has been a mainstay on special teams and his nose for the ball is shown with the many special teams tackles he has in this young season. It may be a surprise to some that he made the jump from tight end to defensive end, to being an all-Canadian, to playing in the CFL, but not to those around him. Week in and week out he was in the opponent’s backfield. He not only started games, but played every special team play. Even though he didn’t receive the hype some might have received, he didn’t sway from his goals. Robinson started to realize that he could make the jump to the next level once his All-Canadian selection came through, followed by the invite to the Evaluation Camp. He initially came to the Western Mustangs as a tight end before the squad transitioned into a more conventional spread CFL-type offense. This prompted the position change which he was destined to play for years to come.
When asked about his experience so far and the transition from CIS to the CFL, Robinson pointed out he loves the city so far. “Toronto is a big city. There is a lot to do and the best part is that it is close to London and a lot of my friends. Being from Vancouver, a big city itself, makes being in Toronto a smooth transition." Of his teammates he said, "The guys on the team have been great. We hang out a lot, check out the city and live really close to everything going on.”
The Argos have a squad with Grey Cup potential. With a core group of veterans and explosive players such as Chad Owens, Andre Durie and a solid defense, the opportunity to go deep into the playoffs and make an appearance in the Grey Cup is a reality.
When asked about the transition from collegiate football to the pro level, and what stands out as being different and challenging. Robinson singled out out offensive line play, “Every offensive lineman is stout across the board. There are no linemen that do not belong where they are, which you may see on a few CIS teams. The special teams structure is also different. In the college game, you have a structured assignment to be locked on one person the whole play. In the pro game, since there are so many great athletes on both sides of the field, that might not happen. You make plays on the fly and adapt quickly.”
The Argos opened their first three games of the season on the road and finally got to play their home opener on July 23 vs the Winnipeg Bluebombers where he lined up against another former Mustang, Chris Greaves.
The real homecoming for Zander Robinson will be September 10 when the Argos make the trip back to his home on the west coast to play the B.C. Lions. He said there have been multiple tickets requests for his return back to where it all began. The one thing he says he will always carry from his years at Western is the lifelong friendships he made on and off the field. From Vancouver College to the Western Mustangs to the Toronto Argonauts, Alexander Robinson is rarely home, but always representing.
