Rookie ‘Vanilla Gorilla’ Draws Raves From Eagles Teammates

In the pantheon of nicknames, at least as it pertains to the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s hard not to look at rookie defensive lineman Ty Robinson’s “Vanilla Gorilla” tag as one of the greatest nicknames in team history before he even plays a game.

For Robinson, a funny, great nickname is one thing. Getting on the field is another.

His talent — and his freakish athletic ability — might get him there sooner or later.

“One of the most significant talking points we’ve heard all offseason is the number of players lost from the defensive roster,” USA Today’s Geoffrey A Knox wrote on June 28. “Frankly, that take seems overstated … Robinson’s NCAA career ended with 134 tackles, including 27 for loss. He also racked up a dozen sacks and 12 pass breakups. He earned Third-team All-Big Ten honors in his swan song with the Cornhuskers last season.”

Robinson, a fourth round pick (No. 111 overall), has made a big impression on his teammates in just the first few months.

“That boy is fire, I ain’t going to lie,” NFL All-Pro defensive tackle Jalen Carter told the media about Robinson after minicamp. “He’s moving good. He’s a big boy. … I think he’s going to have a big impact this season.”

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Eagles Need to Fill Holes on Defensive Line

NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro singled out Robinson, 6-foot-5 and 288 pounds, as a player who might be able to step in and fill the void on the defensive front left by free agents Josh Sweat and Milton Williams as the Eagles try to defend their Super Bowl title.

Robinson capped his college career at Nebraska with a breakout season in 2024, finishing with career highs in tackles (37), sacks (7.0), TFL (13) and pass deflections (4) on his way to All-Big Ten honors.

He doubled down on his big year with a bravura performance at the NFL scouting combine, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.83 seconds and had slimmed down considerably from his previous playing weight of 310 pounds.

“Bully with a roughshod playing style that forces blockers to match his physicality,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “Robinson is built for the trenches with the versatility to play in odd or even fronts. He’s first into contact with his hands and mitigates average knee-bend with brute force in his upper half … Robinson might not be a star, but his effort, strength and demeanor could make him a productive pro for years to come.”

Robinson might be the perfect player to fill in for Williams and learn from Carter, Jordan Davis and Nolan Smith. He could also end up thriving without having to become a full time starter — Williams only made 19 starts in 4 seasons with the Eagles, with 17 of those starts coming over the last 2 seasons.

Eagles Could Have 2 Huskers on Field in 2025

Robinson is the second Nebraska player drafted by the Eagles in the last 4 years, joining Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens on the roster.

Jurgens was a second round pick (No. 51 overall) in the 2022 NFL draft and made the Pro Bowl in his first season as the starting center in 2024. He followed up the Eagles’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX by signing a 4-year, $68 million contract extension on April 21.