NFL Veteran, Wake Forest Football Alum Fred Robbins Joins Deac2Deac Podcast
10/7/2021 12:00:00 PM | Football
Robbins was a member of the Wake Forest football team from 1996-1999 and forged a 12 year career in the NFL.
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Fred Robbins was a mainstay in the Wake Forest defensive line, starting every game over his four year career with the Demon Deacons.
During high school at J.M. Tate High School in Pensacola, Florida, Robbins only played three years of football. He did not begin to get recruited until his senior year. Robbins was also a passionate baseball player and was determined to play both sports at the collegiate level.
Robbins committed to Wake Forest after meeting with Coach Jim Caldwell and Coach Teryl Austin. The two coaches stressed the importance of graduating with Wake Forest education, something that was prevalent to Robbins and his family. Robbins enrolled at Wake Forest in 1996 and immediately earned his spot as a starting defensive tackle for the Demon Deacons. In his first ever game as a freshman, Robbins helped the Deacs upset No. 13 Northwestern. During his four year career in Winston-Salem, Robbins started every game and earned numerous accolades. In his senior season, Fred was named to the All-ACC Second Team as the Deacs won the Aloha Bowl over Arizona State.
In 2000, Robbins entered the NFL Draft and was selected in the second round by the Minnesota Vikings. In his rookie season, Robbins starred in eight games for the Vikings, making five tackles and recording one sack.
Robbins spent three years in Minnesota before signing with the New York Giants. With the Giants, he became one of the best defensive tackles in the National Football League. In 2007, Robbins played in 16 games, recording 36 total tackles, and registering 5.5 sacks as the Giants won Super Bowl XLII. The following season, he earned Sports Illustrated All-Pro honors and helped the Giants to a 12-4 record.
Following six successful years in the Big Apple, Robbins signed with the St. Louis Rams. During his two year stint with the Rams, he appeared in 31 games, totaled 57 tackles, seven sacks, two fumble recoveries. In 2012, Robbins retired from professional football. He has since served on the Board of Directors for the Deacon Club at Wake Forest and heads his own foundation, "Mr. Robbins Neighborhood". The foundation aims to educate and support aspiring college athletes.
In 2009, while still in the prime of his NFL career, Robbins returned to Wake Forest to finish his degree. The Pensacola, Fla. native went through graduation that same year. Robbins was a member of the 2016 Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame inductee class.
On today's pod, Robbins joins alum Kevin Smith to talk about all things Wake Forest Athletics, why he chose Wake Forest, and what it is like to beat Tom Brady.
Listeners are encouraged to send feedback and ideas to smithka@wfu.edu or @Deac2Deac on Twitter.
The Deac2Deac podcast is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, YouTube and GoDeacs.com/Watch.
