Football standout Robinson staying close to home with Kentucky

{THE LAWRENCE CO. BULLDOGS WILL FACE RECENT UK SIGNEE WANDALE ROBINSON and his WESTERN HILLS TEAM IN TONIGHT’S 3A PLAYOFF GAME AT LUKE VARNEY MEMORIAL STADIUM.}

WanDale Robinson’s commitment video had six different endings. The only one that mattered had him choosing Kentucky.

Robinson, a senior at Franklin County’s Western Hills High School and a four-star football recruit, showed the video during an assembly Thursday at WHHS as he made public his decision to play football next year at the University of Kentucky.

“I was very torn between Nebraska and Kentucky about where I wanted to go,” he said. “It was a matter of what was the best situation for me. If anything bad happens, I’d rather be at Kentucky than 12 hours away.”

The other four finalists on Robinson’s list were Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and Purdue.

“They (Kentucky) have been recruiting me since my sophomore year,” Robinson said. “They’ve been recruiting me the longest, and they’ve pushed the hardest to get me. I felt comfortable there.”

Kentucky’s recent success certainly helped the Wildcats’ cause.

UK is 7-1, ranked No. 9 in the latest College Football Playoff selection committee rankings and will be playing for the SEC East division title Saturday when it hosts Georgia.

“They’re trending upward and using (receiver) Lynn (Bowden) in a very good way,” Robinson said. “I feel like me on the other side of that, that’ll obviously cause problems for defenses and that’ll just be a really good combo with us two.”

Robinson plans to graduate from Western Hills in December and enroll at Kentucky in January.

During the recruiting, Robinson relied heavily on his father, Dale, and his trainer, Chris Vaughn.

“My dad and trainer and I have had a lot of conversations the last couple of weeks,” WanDale Robinson said, “getting their sides of everything and taking it into consideration.

“We tried to figure out who I trusted and who they trusted. If they could trust the coaches, I could too.”

Dale Robinson said his role was as a supporter and sounding board.

“I stayed impartial,” he said, “and we talked about the pros and cons of each school. I told him, ‘It’s your decision. It’s your life. I can’t live your life for you. You have to go where you’re comfortable, and no matter where you go, I’m 110 percent behind you.’”

Robinson also talked with former UK player Ryan Timmons, a Franklin County High School graduate, while weighing his options.

“I talked to Ryan for the advice he had during the recruiting process,” Robinson said. “He told me to follow your heart, trust your coaches, and stay where you’ll be comfortable.”

Robinson’s high school career isn’t over. The Wolverines (7-3) play at Lawrence County on Friday in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.

This season, Robinson has rushed for 1,844 yards and 28 touchdowns. He’s caught 22 passes for 493 yards and nine touchdowns, and on defense he has 105 tackles.

Impressive numbers, but Robinson’s been doing that for years. A look at some Frankfort Youth Football League results from the fall of 2009 shows Robinson having games with 203, 138 and 186 yards rushing.

“With each opportunity placed in front of him, he made something happen,” WHHS football coach Don Miller said. “Each opportunity was a chance to work hard, get better and make his dreams happen.”

By Linda Younkin
The State Journal