Football
- Title:
- Co-Defensive Coordinator - Safeties Coach
Travaris Robinson joined head coach Kirby Smart’s coaching staff in January 2024 to be the Bulldogs’ Co-Defensive Coordinator and guide the safeties.
Robinson teamed with Bulldog Defensive Coordinator Glenn Schumann to maintain the standard set by Georgia’s recent defenses. In his first game with UGA, the defense held No. 14 Clemson to just three points. During one of Georgia’s next challenges, Robinson helped the Bulldogs blast top-ranked Texas 30-15 in Austin in front of a record-breaking crowd after the Longhorns arrived averaging 43.2 ppg. The defense flexed its muscle during the 2024 season’s fourth quarter, holding opponents to their lowest cumulative quarter total of 60 points.
Junior safety Malaki Starks was a Thorpe Award finalist and earned First Team All-America honors for the second season in a row under Robinson’s tutelage in 2024 while true freshman safety KJ Bolden was a Freshman All-American and a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year Award. In addition, Robinson helped guide fifth-year safety Dan Jackson to All-Southeastern Conference Third Team honors thanks in part to his 64 tackles (third on the team) and two interceptions.
Robinson had spent the two seasons (2022-23) before arriving in Athens coaching CBs at Alabama. Thanks in part to his leadership, the Tide posted a 23-4 record over that period, including wins in the 2023 SEC Championship Game and 2022 Sugar Bowl.
Robinson guided 2023 Freshman All-American and Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Year Caleb Downs as he led the Tide with 107 tackles, had two interceptions, forced a fumble and a recovered a fumble in his first season. In addition to having cornerback Brian Branch taken in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Robinson helped Alabama rank in the top 12 nationally in both Scoring Defense (18.2 points/game) and in Total Defense (318.2 yards/game) in 2022.
Regarded as one of the nation’s top recruiters, Robinson, known as “T-Rob,” is a native of Miami, Fla., who boasts 17 years of college coaching experience, including five seasons as the defensive coordinator at South Carolina from 2016-19 working under former Gamecock head coach and current Bulldog defensive analyst Will Muschamp.
Robinson spent the 2021 season coaching defensive backs at Miami and was retained on the UM staff by new head coach Mario Cristobal before coming to Tuscaloosa.
In his final season at South Carolina in 2020, Robinson mentored defensive lineman Kingsley Enagbare, a First Team All-SEC selection, and defensive back Jaycee Horn, a Second Team All-SEC pick. In 2019, the South Carolina defense – led by first team All-American defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw – held its opponents to 20 points or less in five games. Sophomore cornerback Israel Mukuamu earned Second Team All-SEC honors, while Jammie Robinson and Zacch Pickens earned SEC All-Freshman accolades for the Gamecocks in 2019.
In 2017, South Carolina led the SEC and ranked ninth in the country with 28 turnovers forced, while ranking 25th in points allowed per game at 20.7. The Gamecocks held 11 of their 13 opponents to fewer points than their season average. South Carolina also tied for 10th in the nation in turnovers forced with 27 during the 2016 campaign, including 15 interceptions.
Robinson spent five seasons coaching defensive backs before arriving in Columbia, S.C., as defensive coordinator – first at Florida (2011-14), then at Auburn (2015). The former Auburn Tiger standout began his coaching career at his alma mater, first as a staff assistant in 2006 while finishing up his degree, then as a GA in 2007. Robinson spent one season each as a defensive backs coach at Western Kentucky (2008), Southern Miss (2009) and Texas Tech (2010) before joining the Florida staff.
In his first season at Florida in 2011, Robinson guided a UF secondary that ranked seventh in the nation in pass defense (166.8), while the Gator defense ranked eighth nationally in total defense (299.5). In 2012, Robinson led a secondary that was one of the best, ranking No. 2 nationally in pass efficiency defense (95.55), giving up just seven touchdown passes. Florida was seventh nationally with 20 interceptions and safety Matt Elam earned first team All-America honors.
Robinson’s secondary in 2013 was seventh nationally in passing defense and eighth in passing efficiency defense, while the Canes were eighth in total defense. Under Robinson, Vernon Hargreaves III was named the National Freshman Defensive Player of the Year by College Football News.
In 2014 at Florida, Robinson again tutored Hargreaves III, who was a First Team All-SEC pick and First Team All-America. Jalen Tabor received Freshman All-America and Freshman All-SEC honors. The Gators defense finished the 2014 regular season ranked ninth nationally in total defense, 14th in pass efficiency defense and 23rd in passing defense.
Prior to his time in Gainesville, he helped Texas Tech to an 8-5 record and a TicketCity Bowl victory over Northwestern. In his one season with the Red Raiders, Robinson had two defensive backs earn All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition and a third that was named a Freshman All-America honorable mention.
As a player at Auburn, Robinson was a First Team All-SEC selection by the AP in 2002 after recording 92 total tackles with four interceptions. He finished his collegiate career with 166 tackles and five picks. Before embarking on his coaching career, Robinson played two seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Robinson was born in Miami and attended Coral Park High where he was a four-year letterman and earned all-state honors as a defensive back and wide receiver. He received his bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Auburn in 2007. Robinson and his wife, Mandisa, have two sons, Tyson Jerod and Travis Jerod, and a daughter, Jordyn.
