ESPN RISE

Matt Robinson had a choice to make.

After playing youth football for two years prior to entering high school, Robinson had to choose between the local public school, Atholton (Columbia, Md.), or a private school.

"[My friends] all wanted me to go to Good Counsel [in Olney, Md.]," Robinson said. "Everybody was talking about going to private school because that's the only way you can get recruited. But I just thought that if I come here [Atholton] and stand out -- that's how you get recruited."

The decision seems to have paid off.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Robinson, who already holds two offers, could be on the verge of several more collegiate offers, according to his new head coach, Kyle Schmitt.

Schmitt comes to Atholton after playing the offensive line and then coaching at the University of Maryland. Schmitt first heard about Robinson when he was a graduate assistant on the Terrapins' football team.

"It was around December or January [Robinson] was on our radar there [at Maryland]," Schmitt said. "Getting to work with him here [at Atholton] over the past three months I've gotten to know Matt pretty well. He's the type of kid that does everything you want. He's the type of kid you want to coach."

Atholton, in the past, has been primarily a running team, but Schmitt inherits a starting quarterback, Kalvin Seamonson, and another top receiver in Ryan Raines in addition to Robinson who plays receiver and defensive back. The first-year head coach wants to throw the ball more this season and said getting Robinson the ball will be a top priority, which could lead to a breakout season for the junior.

"We're going to use him a little different than he has been used in the past. We want to move him around a bit, get him in motion," Schmitt said.

Robinson already holds offers from James Madison and Fordham, but Schmitt believes that Robinson is an NCAA Division I-A football player -- he just does not know what position.

"His versatility is going to be his biggest thing," Schmitt said. "The colleges I've talked with have said to me they can see Matt anywhere from receiver to safety, to tight end, outside linebacker, even defensive end."

Schmitt said that Old Dominion and Massachusetts both appear close to making official offers, as does his alma mater, Maryland.

"I've watched a lot of football at the college level and [Robinson] can be a very productive college football player," Schmitt said. "That unknown with Matt is what excites people. Everybody I talk to, as soon as they see Matt, they say, 'That's a good-looking kid.'"

For Robinson, the position he plays has very little impact on which college he will choose.

"Wherever I can go and play -- I'd like to play early, that's where I'd rather go. It doesn't matter what position," Robinson said.

The junior already has a small taste of college football.

A former member of the Columbia Ravens, a youth football team, Robinson was teammates and friends with future college football recruits Michael Campanaro (Wake Forest), Malek Redd (Central Michigan), Leron Eaddy (Central Michigan) and Jordan Love (Georgia).

Robinson also competed against Campanaro, Redd and Eaddy, who were members of the River Hill (Clarksville, Md.) team that won back-to-back Class 2A championships.

That experience, along with the fact that Campanaro, Eaddy and Redd played at a public school in the same county as Robinson, helped him believe that he made the correct choice to attend Atholton.

"It's nice to know that I played with some of the best people who are going to college now," Robinson said. "It just tells you that you can come from a public high school and make it big."

Click HERE for a complete list of players profiled. Interested in having your profile on ESPNRISE/MDVarsity.com? Click here to fill out the Player Prospect Form and e-mail it to Mike Loveday. All information on the form will be verified through coaches. We will be profiling athletes throughout the winter and spring.

Mike Loveday covers high school sports for ESPNRISE.com. Mike can be reached at Michael.Loveday@espn.com