THE GENESIS OF ISAIAH ROBINSON

I am Isaiah Robinson, the always hungry and thirsty athlete. I started playing football in 3rd grade for the Bowie Bulldogs. I have played different positions—defensive end, center, and right guard and I have loved them all. My father ignited my desire to be a quarterback when I was in the 4th grade. He told me “Isaiah, you have the special gift of leadership and the ability to inspire others to be better”. At that time, I didn’t fully understand what that truly meant however, I believed him. I was not big enough to be a lineman at the next level, and was not the fastest kid; therefore I probably would not be a wide receiver or the running back. The only position that I had developed interest in was quarterback. “If you want to be a quarterback, you will to make sacrifices in life that your friends may not have to make” my father said when I told him I would like to prepare for the quarterback tryouts. My father was my first coach; we practiced almost daily, on the field when we could make it, on the lawn or on our street when we could not make it to a field.

The next football season, 5th grade, I tried out for quarterback. The coaches and the players mocked me and said I was not a quarterback material at all. I didn’t even get a chance to show them my capabilities, so I played defensive end for another year. Right after the season ended, I signed up for the off-season training in December. I went back on the field and practiced harder. That summer, I also attended several quarterback camps, including Joe Krivak’s Overnight QB Camp, where I became the standout player for my age group. I couldn’t wait to get back to the team.

In 6th grade, I became the starting quarterback- it felt good seeing summer’s hard practice yield results until a week before the start of the season. The coach of the next weight class decided to truncate my feel good moment. He wanted me to play defensive end for his team. The club’s rule was that the higher weight class had priority in choosing players. That put me back on the line again. I was angry at his inconsiderate decision but my love for football never wavered. During the off-season, I invested time in intense workouts, attended more quarterback camps, and stayed focused on my goal.

7th grade could not come fast enough, so I thought. One day, a neighbor saw me working out with my dad and asked me to come over to his house. He was the head coach of PG Chargers, a rival club. His starting quarterback for the last three years was moving, and he wanted a replacement. I jumped at the offer; it felt like my lucky day had finally come. While I danced in the rain, I did not get to bask in the sun because lightning struck. Two weeks before the first game, the leaving quarterback returned to the team and took his spot back; nobody thought twice about giving it back to him. I have to say that this was the turning point in my career and my life, because I knew at this point that God was testing my will to work hard and succeed. My dad had thought me to live by the code “character is what you do when nobody is watching”, and deep in my heart, I knew I was working harder than my obstacles when nobody was watching.

In 8th grade, the president of the PG Chargers noticed my hard work. I was not the team’s starting quarterback, yet he recruited me to play for Riverdale Baptist Middle School and there I became the starting quarterback. My first starting quarterback job was a will come true. As exhilarating as it was, they only had six games and that was not satisfactory enough for me and my constant love for football. I convinced my dad to let me also play for the Bowie Bulldogs at the same time. I started at Riverdale but was second string at Bowie. I played for both teams and enjoyed both sides of the coin. Riverdale wanted me to be on their high school team the next year, it was a sweet, sugary and tempting offer that I could not say no. While the Bowie Bulldogs became less like just a team and more like family. It was a privilege to be wanted and loved by two budding teams. But the time with these two teams, was not the end of my journey. In the spring, I became the starting quarterback for GORC in the All-Star Grassroots Youth Football League.

9th Grade…YES!! Finally, it all comes together right? The head coach of GORC was also the head coach at St. Vincent Pallotti High School. He recruited me to the school and I became his new starting Junior Varsity quarterback. I had a great year and proved so many of my naysayers wrong. I wanted to carry on the success so I trained throughout the off-season, more than ever before. In the bid to improve myself, I attended the USA Football Developmental Camp. It was at the USA Football Camp that I reconnectedI with Coach Bryson Spinner, the quarterback instructional guru. I began private training during the spring with Bryson. Knocks on my door, opportunity paid a visit and as usual in came in disguise. I was notified that I was not going to have a fair chance to compete for the varsity position in my high school, that I would be playing Junior Varsity for another year. The news was very displeasing.

Entering the 10th grade and “Here we go again”. Unknowingly to me, from that disappointment, sprung out a blessing. Bryson accepted a new position as the offensive coordinator for The Avalon School and offered me a chance to compete for the varsity quarterback job. This was a blessing in many ways, not just because I could be a starting quarterback but also because I would be able to spend quality training time with Bryson. The idea of that quality training time to learn the dynamics of how to be a top quarterback was the main attraction. In the tussle for the quarterback spot, I lost to an experienced senior however, I won Bryson’s interest and time. This time, I knew that I was in the right at the right time. I learnt to appreciate, fight, create and maximize every opportunity; my skill level improved greatly. I got a lot of playing time and ended the season passing for eighteen touchdowns and only two interceptions. My off-season has been long awaited dream; I got recognized as a national top 2017 quarterback prospect. I received invites to top camps such as Rivals, The Nike Opening, NUC, USA Football Developmental Games, and more.

That is not all I am out to achieve; I am looking to the future, to be the starting quarterback in 11th grade, duel against nationally and locally ranked teams and completing a record breaking undefeated season 13-0. I now understand what my dad meant when he talked about the sacrifice needed to be a quarterback. The quarterback position is unique because there is only one QB on the field at a time and I have come to realize that talent is not the only factor in determining which player is chosen to be on the field. I found that the physical sacrifice has been the easiest (I’m a gym rat); it has been the emotional and mental sacrifice that has been the hardest however, it is what has developed me most into a true leader. I have always and will always believe that I have potential and will continue to show the world I am a force to be reckoned with. I am glad about the awards and recognitions, the college prospect camp invitations, and I am not distracted. I am rather inspired and I am telling the story of my humble beginnings so that to be an inspiration to others.

I am four inches taller now, 6”3 and that’s another blessing I forgot to mention.