Rex Robinson (American football)

Originally from Marietta, Georgia, Robinson grew up watching the NFL’s latest curiosities, soccer style kickers, such as Jan Stenerud, Garo Yepremian, and Pete and Charlie Gogalak on television each Sunday and then tried to imitate what he saw them doing. By the time he reached high school, he was receiving a great deal of attention. As a 15-year-old on Marietta’s JV team, Robinson kicked a 51-yard field goal in a game. A local news station sent a crew out to verify the feat. It took a few tries, but Robinson duplicated the kick for the camera and was on the 6 o’clock news that night.

As a senior, Robinson received several scholarship offers but chose the University of Georgia.^[2] He would have the chance to play as a freshman, and UGA seemed the perfect distance from home. Robinson was the team's leading scorer and made the All-SEC Freshman Team in 1977. He would make 1st team All-SEC in 1978, 1979 & 1980 and Playboy All-American in 1979 and 1980.^[3] Robinson also made the Walter Camp, Football News, Football Writer’s, and UPI All-American teams in 1980.^[3] He was invited to play in the 1981 Senior Bowl.^[4] The highlight of his senior year was beating Notre Dame in the 1981 Sugar Bowl^[5] and the Bulldogs being named the 1980 National Champion ^[6] football team.

Robinson finished with several SEC records, including the single-season FG% at 88.2%, career points (269), career field goals (56) and consecutive extra points (101). The last two categories were second in NCAA history at the time. He also had six FGs over 50 yards, with two 57-yarders in 1980. Robinson was honored in 2007 as The University of Georgia’s representative at the SEC Legends Dinner as a part of the SEC Championship weekend.