Guelph’s Tavius Robinson has grown accustomed to life as a professional football player.
The 25-year-old is into his second year with the Baltimore Ravens, after he cracked the 52-man roster as a rookie in 2023.
“I definitely feel so much more confident on the field,” he told GuelphToday after practice Friday.
“Just kind of noticed it the first game and preseason, just able to play more freely, being with the defense for a year, kind of knowing what to expect. I feel good out there and definitely still a lot more than year one, got a lot of growth during the offseason.”
He got into all 17 regular season games and two playoff games a year ago, and appeared in Baltimore’s Week 1 loss to Kansas City.
Robinson had a busy summer. After the Ravens lost to the Chiefs in the AFC championship game in January, he took two weeks off before getting back into training.
He spent a good amount of time in Atlanta with other guys on the defensive line, and also trained at the Ravens facility.
He did make it back to Guelph for a couple weeks, visiting family and friends while getting in some additional training.
“It’s a year-round job for sure, making sure your body is right and making sure you’re ready for the next season,” he said.
Robinson credits his time at Ole Miss for preparing him for the pro game, and all the things that come along with it.
The work has been noticeable. Ravens EVP and general manager Eric DaCosta said a couple weeks ago Robinson “keeps getting better.”
”He plays with a passion,” he told reporters. “He's very, very physical, stout (and an) edge setter. He plays with a relentless energy about him. I think his best football is on the come, and he's going to be one of these guys that probably a year from now, two years from now, we're going to say was one of our better fourth-round picks."
When asked about learning from the veterans, Robinson immediately keyed in on former teammate and first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney as someone he went to during his rookie season.
“Just learning from him and picking his brain was amazing. It definitely improved my game,” he said.
“This year, we still have a bunch of guys like (fellow outside linebackers) Kyle Van Noy (and) Odafe (Oweh), guys that I learn from every day. Just try to take little things from them and add it to my game.”
The biggest lesson, along with learning different schemes and movements on the field, is just taking care of his body, a lesson he hears a lot among veterans.
“The best ability is availability,” he said. “Getting their routine, how they go about taking care of their body, that’s the biggest thing.”
Of note, Van Noy appeared at practice Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday with a fractured orbital bone he suffered in Week 1.
It’s unclear if the two-time Super Bowl champ will be good for Sunday’s home opener against Las Vegas (at 1 p.m. ET).
If he isn’t, Robinson could be in for more playing time to fill the void.
“Every game, I prepare the same way, that I’m going to get a bunch of snaps,” he said. “Whatever happens, I’ll be ready for sure.”
Whatever happens, he’ll have a city and a country behind him, and it’s a reciprocated love he carries on his sleeve.
“It’s huge to be able to represent Guelph, and just kind of show these kids in Guelph and in Canada in general that it’s possible and just be that role model for them,” he said.
